Nahant Beach Boulevard facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
|
|
Nahant Beach Boulevard-Metropolitan Park System of Greater Boston
|
|
 Location in Massachusetts
Location in the United States
|
|
| Location | Lynn and Nahant, Massachusetts |
|---|---|
| Built | 1936 |
| Architect | Eliot, Charles; et al. |
| MPS | Metropolitan Park System of Greater Boston MPS |
| NRHP reference No. | 03000747 |
| Added to NRHP | August 11, 2003 |
Nahant Beach Boulevard is a special historic road that connects the town of Nahant, Massachusetts to the mainland at Lynn, Massachusetts. It's also known as the Nahant Causeway or Nahant Road. This road is built on a narrow strip of land called an isthmus, which has water on both sides.
The boulevard stretches for about 1.5 miles (2.4 km) from the Lynn Rotary to Wilson Road in Nahant. As you drive or walk along it, you'll pass through the beautiful Nahant Beach Reservation. This is a state park where you can enjoy the beach. The road offers amazing views of the coastlines nearby and even Boston Harbor. The Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation takes care of both the park and the road.
Building a Special Road
The idea for Nahant Beach Boulevard began in 1905. It was part of a big plan by the Metropolitan District Commission to create scenic roads along the ocean. This new road was important because it was the first paved road that connected Nahant to the mainland.
The famous landscape design firm, Olmsted, Olmsted, and Eliot, helped design the road. They were known for creating beautiful parks and public spaces. Around the same time, a train track and a path for horses were also added to this narrow strip of land.
Modernizing the Boulevard
In 1936, the original road was changed into a parking area. The road we see today was finished the next year, built on the old train track's path. The Lynn Rotary, a circular intersection, was completed in 1935.
These improvements, including turning the horse path into a walking area, were paid for by grants from the Works Progress Administration. This was a government program during the 1930s that helped people find jobs during tough economic times. Since then, only small changes have been made to the road. Seawalls have been built to protect the coast, and a fence was put up between the road and the parking lot.
A Historic Landmark
In 2003, Nahant Beach Boulevard was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This means it's recognized as an important historical site in the United States.
The listing includes not just the road itself, but also the Lynn Rotary and a memorial from the Spanish–American War located in the rotary. Another memorial, the Aliferis Monument, was built after the period that made the road historically significant for this listing.
