Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Chestnut Hill
Village
Map of Chestnut Hill
Chestnut Hill Location in Greater Boston area Show map of Greater Boston area Chestnut Hill Location in Massachusetts Show map of Massachusetts Chestnut Hill Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Country	United States
State	Massachusetts
Counties	Middlesex, Norfolk, Suffolk
ZIP Code	02467

Chestnut Hill is a beautiful village in Massachusetts, about 6 miles (10 km) west of downtown Boston. It's famous for being home to Boston College and part of the exciting Boston Marathon race route.

Even though it's a well-known place, Chestnut Hill isn't its own separate town. Instead, it's split between three different places: Brookline (in Norfolk County), the city of Boston (in Suffolk County), and the city of Newton (in Middlesex County). You can find Chestnut Hill by looking for the 02467 ZIP Code. The name "Chestnut Hill" actually refers to several small hills that look over the large 135-acre (546,000 m²) Chestnut Hill Reservoir, not just one big hill.

History of Chestnut Hill

For a long time, Chestnut Hill was mostly farmland. But things started to change in the 1870s. The city of Boston needed more clean drinking water. So, some land was moved from Newton to Boston to build the Chestnut Hill Reservoir. This big reservoir helped bring water from the Sudbury Aqueduct to Boston.

Designing the Landscape

Around the same time, a famous landscape architect named Frederick Law Olmsted helped design the area around the reservoir. He also designed other well-known places like Central Park in New York City and the Emerald Necklace in Boston. His work helped shape the beautiful look of Chestnut Hill.

Historic Buildings and Styles

Because of its special landscape and old buildings, parts of Chestnut Hill were named historic districts in the 1980s. This means these areas are protected because they show important history and architecture. You can see many different old building styles here, like Colonial, Italianate, Shingle, Tudor Revival, and Victorian. The Boston College campus itself is a great example of Collegiate Gothic architecture, which looks like old European castles.

Green Spaces and Parks

Chestnut Hill has many wonderful green spaces where you can enjoy nature.

Hammond Pond Reservation

Cars on Hammond Pond Parkway, which divides the Hammond Pond Reservation in two

The Hammond Pond Reservation is a large forest and protected wetland area. It stretches through Chestnut Hill and Newton. It's a great place to explore nature.

Kennard Park and Conservation Area

This park used to be farmland in the 1800s. Now, it's a forest with old stone walls, a swamp with very old trees, and a marsh. It's a peaceful spot to see different kinds of plants and wildlife.

Chestnut Hill Reservation

The Chestnut Hill Reservation covers 120 acres next to the Boston College campus. It has a 1.5-mile (2.4 km) walking trail around the reservoir. This reservation was designed by Frederick Law Olmsted's son in the 1860s. It was built to give Boston clean drinking water and a lovely park. Nearby, the Boston Waterworks buildings are considered amazing examples of 19th-century engineering and design.

Heartbreak Hill Park

This park, which surrounds the Waban Hill reservoir, opened in 2015. It was updated in 2020 and is another nice place to visit outdoors.

Shopping and Fun

Chestnut Hill has some popular places to shop and hang out.

Shopping Centers

A bus stop within The Street parking lot

• The Shops at Chestnut Hill
• The Street at Chestnut Hill

Getting Around Chestnut Hill

You can get around Chestnut Hill using Boston's public transportation system, the MBTA.

Green Line Trains

Chestnut Hill is served by two branches of the Green Line light rail system:

• The B branch ends at Boston College.
• The D branch has a stop called Chestnut Hill.

Buses and Roads

The area also has MBTA bus routes 51 and 60. For cars, Massachusetts Route 9 runs through Chestnut Hill from west to east. It's a main road with many stores. Hammond Pond Parkway connects the area from north to south, going through conservation areas and avoiding busy shopping spots.

Important Historic Areas

Several parts of Chestnut Hill are recognized as historic districts:

• Boston College Main Campus Historic District – This is the main campus of Boston College.
• Chestnut Hill Historic District – This area includes many historic homes and streets.
• Chestnut Hill Reservoir Historic District – This district covers the area around the reservoir.
• Old Chestnut Hill Historic District – This district includes historic homes along Hammond Street and Chestnut Hill Road.

Schools and Learning

Chestnut Hill has different public schools depending on which town or city a home is in: Brookline Public Schools, Newton Public Schools, or Boston Public Schools. There are also several private schools in the area, such as Brimmer and May School, The Chestnut Hill School, and Beaver Country Day School.

Chestnut Hill is also home to Boston College, a well-known university.

Famous People from Chestnut Hill

Many interesting people have lived in or are connected to Chestnut Hill:

• Jane Alexander, a famous actress.
• Larry Bird, a legendary basketball player for the Boston Celtics.
• Tom Brady, a famous football quarterback.
• Michael Dukakis, a former governor of Massachusetts.
• Mary Baker Eddy, who founded The First Church of Christ, Scientist.
• Theo Epstein, a successful baseball general manager.
• Reginald Fessenden, known as "the father of broadcast radio."
• Paul Fireman, who helped make Reebok popular.
• Terry Francona, a baseball manager.
• John W. Henry, owner of the Boston Red Sox.
• Jarome Iginla, a former hockey player.
• The Kennedy Family, a very famous political family.
• Robert Kraft, owner of the New England Patriots.
• Conan O'Brien, a popular TV host.
• David Ortiz, a Hall of Fame baseball player for the Boston Red Sox.
• Thomas G. Stemberg, who founded Staples Inc.
• Mike Wallace, a famous TV host for CBS's 60 Minutes.