Rowes Wharf facts for kids
Rowes Wharf is a modern building complex in downtown Boston, Massachusetts. It's famous for the large arch of the Boston Harbor Hotel. This arch stands over a wide public area between Atlantic Avenue and the Boston Harbor waterfront.
Along the waterfront, you can find a place for boats called a marina. There are also restaurants and a terminal for water transportation. During the summer, a floating stage offers free concerts and movies.
You can catch MBTA boats from the wharf to Hingham. Water taxis also run to and from Logan International Airport. Plus, many cruise boats start their trips from Rowes Wharf.
A Look Back in Time
Early Days: The 1700s
In 1666, a protective fort called the "Sconce" was built. It was located where Rowes Wharf is today, at the base of Fort Hill. This fort had soldiers ready in case of an attack. By the 1740s, the fort was made even bigger and had thirty-five guns for defense.
In 1764, a merchant named John Rowe bought the land. He then built the first Rowes Wharf. It stretched a short distance into Boston Harbor. The next year, in 1765, Foster's Wharf was built nearby.
Foster's Wharf was first called "Apthorp's Wharf." Charles Ward Apthorp was a strong Loyalist. Loyalists were people who supported the British during the American Revolution. After the war, his land was taken away. William Foster bought it in 1782. But Rowes Wharf has kept its original builder's name ever since. For about 150 years, ships used the area for trade.
Changing Times: The 1800s and 1900s
In 1875, a new train line opened. It was called the Boston, Revere Beach and Lynn Railroad. A ferry service then connected Rowes Wharf to the train's end point in East Boston. Later, in 1901, the Atlantic Avenue Elevated train line opened. This gave Rowes Wharf a station that connected it to Boston's elevated and subway system.
However, by the mid-1900s, both the train and the elevated railway had closed. The wharf became old and run-down. This was because shipping methods changed. It stayed this way until the 1980s. That's when the current modern building was constructed.
The Boston Harbor Hotel is the main part of the current Rowes Wharf building. It was finished in 1987. The building was designed by Adrian Smith. He worked for a company called Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM).
