Adams Square (Boston) facts for kids

Adams Square c. 1905, looking south. The rear of the Ames Building is visible on the right

Adams Square was a special place in downtown Boston, Massachusetts. It existed from 1879 to 1963. Today, where Adams Square once stood, you'll find the Boston City Hall in an area called Government Center. The square itself was taken down to make way for new buildings.

History of Adams Square

How Adams Square Began

Adams Square was created between 1873 and 1874. This happened when Washington Street was made longer, reaching Haymarket Square. This project opened up a big space where several streets met. These streets included Cornhill, Brattle, Washington, and Devonshire Streets.

In 1879, the city decided to put a statue of a famous American Patriot and leader named Samuel Adams in this spot. Because of this statue, the area was named Adams Square that same year. In its early days, Adams Square was a busy shopping area. It was home to large stores like Leopold Morse & Co., which sold a lot of clothing.

Adams Square and the Subway

In 1898, Adams Square became an important stop on the Tremont Street Subway. This subway line was the first underground train system in Boston. It is now part of the MBTA Green Line. The subway station, called Adams Square Station, had a large stone building above ground. This building was known as a "head house" and became a key feature of the square.

Changes for Traffic Flow

As more cars appeared, Adams Square became very crowded. To help with traffic, the city made some changes in the early 1900s. In 1928, the statue of Samuel Adams was moved. It went to a nearby area called Dock Square to make it easier for cars to move.

Three years later, in 1931, the original subway station building was torn down. A much smaller entrance was built instead. This change helped drivers see better and improved traffic flow even more.

The End of Adams Square

In the middle of the 20th century, Adams Square was chosen for a big city project. This project was called urban renewal, which means rebuilding parts of a city. It was part of the larger Government Center plan. In 1963, Adams Square was completely taken down. In its place, the new Boston City Hall was built.

Images for kids

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  View from Dock Square toward the future site of Adams Square (center) and Brattle Street (right), 1860

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  Map of Adams Square, 1896

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  Adams Square looking west toward Brattle Street (left) and Leopold Morse & Co. (center), c. 1895

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  Adams Square looking north toward Haymarket Square, during the construction of Adams Square Station, 1897

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  South side of Adams Square looking west toward Cornhill (left) and Brattle Street (right), 1905