Christian Science Plaza Facts for Kids

The First Church of Christ, Scientist (left), the reflecting pool, and a tall building in Boston.

The Christian Science Plaza is a large, open area in the city of Boston, Massachusetts. It covers about 13.5 acres (5.5 hectares). You can find it where Massachusetts Avenue and Huntington Avenue meet in the Back Bay neighborhood.

This plaza belongs to the Church of Christ, Scientist, also known as the Christian Science church. In 2011, the city of Boston officially named it a Boston Landmark. They called it a "heavily-used public space" because many people visit and enjoy it. The plaza is home to the church's main offices and its most important church building, The First Church of Christ, Scientist.

Exploring the Christian Science Plaza
- Important Buildings at the Plaza
Gallery
See also

Exploring the Christian Science Plaza

The Christian Science Plaza is a special place with lots of open space and interesting buildings. It has about 10.4 acres (4.2 hectares) of open areas. A long, calm reflecting pool stretches for 690 feet (210 meters). There's also a fun children's fountain. Six main buildings stand around the plaza.

Important Buildings at the Plaza

Several important buildings make up the Christian Science Plaza. Each one has its own story and purpose.

The Mother Church Buildings

The First Church of Christ, Scientist: This is the main church building. It's located at 250 Massachusetts Avenue. It's actually made up of two parts:
- The original Mother Church, built in 1894.
- The Church Extension, which was added in 1906.

Christian Science Publishing House

Christian Science Publishing House: Built in 1934, this building is at 200–210 Massachusetts Avenue. It was first used by the Christian Science Publishing Society. Today, it also houses the Mary Baker Eddy Library. This library is a place where you can learn about the church's founder. Inside, you can also find the amazing Mapparium, a giant globe you can walk through! The building is also where The Christian Science Monitor newspaper is created. The church's main staff offices are here too.

Modern Buildings from the 1970s

In the 1970s, the plaza grew bigger. Three new buildings were added. They were designed by an architect named Araldo Cossutta.

Reflection Hall: This building was finished in 1971. It used to be the Sunday School building. You can find it at 235 Huntington Avenue, at one end of the reflecting pool.
The Colonnade building: This building was completed in 1972 and is located at 101 Belvidere Street.
177 Huntington: Also built in 1972, this is a tall, 26-story building. It used to be called the Administration Building. The church's staff worked here until 2008. After that, they moved to the Christian Science Publishing House. Now, 177 Huntington is rented out as office space for other businesses.

Gallery

The First Church of Christ, Scientist and (left) Reflection Hall
Mother Church, Colonnade building, reflecting pool
(left) Colonnade building and (right) 177 Huntington Avenue, former administration building
(left) the Mother Church, reflecting pool and (right) 177 Huntington Avenue
Christian Science Publishing House
Mary Baker Eddy Library, part of Christian Science Publishing House
Reflection Hall (1973). Originally named the "Sunday School Building"
Reflecting pool at the Christian Science Plaza at night. July 19, 2024