Boston Fish Pier facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Boston Fish Pier Historic District
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| Location | Northern Ave., South Boston, Massachusetts |
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| Built | 1910 |
| Architect | Henry F. Keyes; Monks & Johnson |
| NRHP reference No. | 100001314 |
| Added to NRHP | July 13, 2017 |
The Boston Fish Pier is a really important place for fishing in Boston, Massachusetts. It's found on Northern Avenue in South Boston, right in Boston Harbor. Since 1910, it has been the main spot for fishing boats. In the 1920s, it was one of the biggest fishing ports on the East Coast. They handled a massive 250 million pounds of fish! Because it's so important, the pier and its buildings were added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2017. Today, people are thinking about making it a special Boston Landmark.
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What Does the Boston Fish Pier Look Like?
The Boston Fish Pier sits on the south side of Boston Harbor's main waterway. If you look across the water to the north, you can see Logan Airport. The pier itself is next to Northern Avenue on the South Boston peninsula. It is about 300 feet (91 meters) wide and 1,200 feet (366 meters) long.
Two very similar, long buildings stretch almost the entire length of the pier. At the very end, there is a smaller office building. These structures are made from strong steel and concrete. They are decorated with terra cotta, which is a type of baked clay. Inside the two main buildings, you'll find tall, arched hallways. There are 44 storefronts where different businesses work with fish. These include dealers, handlers, and other companies related to the fishing industry.
A Look Back: History of the Fish Pier
Before the Boston Fish Pier was built, Boston's fishing industry used to operate from T Wharf. This wharf was part of the Long Wharf, a key part of the city's busy waterfront for many years. The Boston Fish Market Association managed the fishing business.
In 1909, the lease for T Wharf was ending. So, the association, the city, and the state agreed to build a new, special pier. This new pier would be on the South Boston waterfront. It was first called Pier Six. The pier itself was built in 1910, and the buildings followed in 1912. Henry F. Keyes designed these buildings. He also designed the nearby Commonwealth Pier.
When it was finished, the pier had amazing features. It included an eight-story cold storage building. This building could hold 15 million pounds of fish! At the time, it was said to be the largest cold storage facility in the world.
How Much Fish Did They Handle?
In 1926, the pier was very busy. It handled 250 million pounds of fish. It also had space for 40 fishing boats to dock. Another 80 boats could unload their catch there. The pier's busiest year was 1969. That year, 339 million pounds of fish were brought in!
The Massachusetts Port Authority took over the facility in 1972. They made big improvements and upgrades in 1979. The building at the end of the pier, where fish auctions used to happen, is now a conference center. However, the pier is still mostly used for fishing activities today.
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