Boston Landmark

A Boston Landmark is a designation by the Boston Landmarks Commission for historic buildings and sites throughout the city of Boston based on the grounds that it has historical, social, cultural, architectural or aesthetic significance to New England or the United States. While National Landmark or National Register status can provide tax incentives for the owner of an income-producing property, local landmark status provides more control over modifications to a designated historic structure or place. ^[1]

Criteria

For a group to start a designation procedure, they first meet with Boston Landmarks Commission staff to discuss the petition process. Once a complete petition is submitted, a preliminary hearing is scheduled to determine if the Commission will accept the petition for further study. If the Commission accepts the petition, the building or site is added to the pending Landmarks list. Preparation of a study report on the proposed Landmark is the next step. A public hearing process follows to present the draft study report. A 2/3 majority vote of the Commission is necessary for a property to be designated as a Boston Landmark. The decision must then be confirmed by the Mayor of Boston and by the Boston City Council. The Boston Landmarks Commission determines if a property is eligible for landmark status based on whether it

1. Is a site that represents some important aspect of cultural, political, economic, military, or social history
2. Is a site that has a significant association with an outstanding historic person
3. Is a notable work of an influential architect, landscape architect, designer, or builder
4. Represents elements of design with distinctive characteristics of a period, style or method of construction or development.

Once designated, any proposed alterations must be reviewed and approved by the Boston Landmarks Commission. ^[2]

Recent designations

In 2016, a commissioner submitted a petition to the Boston Landmarks Commission to designate the Citgo sign above Kenmore Square, when its support building at 660 Beacon Street was in the process of being sold by Boston University. The petition was accepted and the sign is a pending Landmark, with research for the study report underway. ^[3]

Since two unrelated designations in 2016, as of July 2018 ^[update] no pending landmarks have been approved. A number of sites have remained pending since the 1980s. ^[4]

Demolished Boston Landmarks

The 1840 Roswell Gleason house in Dorchester was granted landmark status in 1977. It was destroyed by fire in 1982. ^[5]

List of designated Boston Landmarks

Boston Landmarks	Location	Date Designated [6]	Image	References
20–30 Bromfield Street	20–30 Bromfield Street	1983		[7]
39 & 41 Princeton Street (Stephen Huse Whidden House & Joseph Henry Stephenson House) Architectural Conservation District	East Boston	1991		[8]
5–7 Broad Street	5–7 Broad Street	1983		[9]
Aberdeen Architectural Conservation District	Brighton	2001		[10]
Adams-Nervine Asylum	990–1020 Centre Street, Jamaica Plain	1977		[11]
Alvah Kittredge House	10 Linwood Street, Roxbury	2016		[12] [13]
Arlington Street Church	355 Boylston Street, Back Bay	1978		[14]
Armory of the First Corps of Cadets	97–105 Arlington Street	1977		[15]
Austin Block	90–92 Main Street, Charlestown	1981		[16]
Back Bay Fens	The Fenway	1983		[17] [18]
Batterymarch Building	54 Battermarch Street, Jamaica Plain	1995		[19] [20]
Bay State Road / Back Bay West Architectural Conservation District	Bay State Road	1979		[21]
Bay Village Architectural Conservation District	Bay Village	1983		[22]
Blackstone Block Street Network	Blackstone Block	1983		[23]
Boston City Hall	1 City Hall Square	2025		[24] [25]
Boston Common	Beacon Street	1977		[26]
Boston Young Men's Christian Union Building	48 Boylston Street, Theater District	1977		[27]
Boylston Building	2 Boylston Street, Theater District	1977		[28]
Brook Farm	670 Baker Street, West Roxbury	1977		[29]
Burrage House	137 Beacon Street, Back Bay	1992		[30] [31]
Charles River Esplanade	Beacon Hill / Back Bay	2009		[32]
Charles River Speedway Administration Building	1420–1440 Soldiers Field Road, Brighton	2013		[33]
Charlestown Savings Bank Building	1–4 Thompson Square, Charlestown	1981		[34]
Christian Science Center Complex	Fenway	2011		[35]
Church Green Buildings	101–103,105–113 Summer Street	1979		[36]
Commonwealth Avenue Mall	Back Bay	1977		[37]
Cox Building	1–7 Dudley Street, Roxbury	1980		[38]
Donald McKay House	80 White Street, East Boston	1977		[39]
Dorchester North Burying Ground	Columbia Road, Dorchester	1981		[40]
Dorchester Pottery Works	101–105 Victory Road, Dorchester	1980		[41]
Ebenezer Hancock House	Marshall Street	1978		[42]
Edward Everett House	16 Harvard Street, Charlestown	1996		[43]
Elizabeth Peabody Bookstore and Circulating Library	13–15 West Street	2011		[44] [45]
Eustis Street Architectural Conservation District	Roxbury	1981		[46]
Exchange Building	53 State Street	1980		[47]
Faneuil Hall	1–10 Faneuil Hall Square	1994		[48]
Federal Reserve Bank	30 Pearl Street	1978		[49]
Fort Point Channel Landmark District	South Boston	2008		[50]
Fowler-Clark Farm	487 Norfolk Street, Mattapan	2006		[51]
Franklin Park	Roxbury	1980		[52]
George Milliken House	44 Virginia Street, Dorchester	2007		[53]
Gibson House (Interior)	187 Beacon Street, Back Bay	1992		[54]
Harrison Loring House	789 East Broadway, South Boston	1984		[55]
Hayden Building	681 Washington Street, Theater District	1977		[56] [57]
International Trust Company Building	45 Milk Street	1978		[58]
Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum	280 The Fenway	2013		[59]
Jacob Wirth Buildings	31–39 Stuart Street, Theater District	1977		[60]
James Blake House	210 East Cottage Street, Dorchester	1978		[61]
James Michael Curley House	350 Jamaicaway, Jamaica Plain	1989		[62]
Lewis–Dawson Farmhouse at the Arnold Arboretum	1090 Centre Street, Jamaica Plain	2007		[63] [64]
Liberty Tree Building	628–636 Washington Street, Theater District	1985		[65]
Loring–Greenough House	12 South Street, Jamaica Plain	1999		[66]
Malcolm X – Ella Little-Collins House	72 Dale Street, Roxbury	1998		[67]
McCormack Post Office and Courthouse	5 Post Office Square	1998		[68]
Mission Church Complex	Mission Hill	2004		[69]
Modern Theatre	523–525 Washington Street	2002		[70]
Oak Square School	35 Nonantum Street, Brighton	1979		[71]
Old State House	208 Washington Street	1994		[72]
Paramount Theater	549–563 Washington Street, Theater District	1984		[73]
Proctor Building	100–106 Bedford Street	1983		[74]
Public Garden	Beacon Street	1977		[75]
Quincy Market	Faneuil Hall Market Place	1996		[76] [77]
South End Landmark District	South End	1983		[78] [79]
St. Botolph Street Architectural Conservation District	St. Botolph Street	1981		[80]
St. Gabriel's Monastery Building	159 Washington Street, Brighton	1989		[81] [82]
Theodore Parker Unitarian Church	1851 Centre Street, West Roxbury	1985		[83]
Trinity Neighborhood House	406 Meridian Street, East Boston	1981		[84]
Tugboat Luna	Charles River	1985		[85]
United Shoe Machinery Corporation Building	140 Federal Street	1983		[86]
Vienna Brewery Complex	133 Halleck & 37 Station, Roxbury	1999		[87]
Wilbur Theatre	250 Tremont Street, Theater District	1987		[88]
William Monroe Trotter House	97 Sawyer Avenue, Dorchester	1977		[89] [90]

References

1. "Designating landmarks in Boston". 12 July 2016.
2. "How to apply for Landmarks design review". 12 July 2016.
3. "Panel drafting rules that could protect Boston's Citgo sign".
4. Pending and Designated Landmarks as of July 2018 ^[update] , PDF file, Retrieved September 8, 2018
5. Status of Petitions to the Boston Landmarks Commission for Designation as Landmarks and Districts (PDF) (Report). June 2016. Retrieved July 7, 2022.
6. "City of Boston" (PDF). City of Boston. Retrieved 2016-12-14.
7. Boston Landmarks Commission (1983). "20–30 Bromfield Street Study Report" (PDF).
8. Boston Landmarks Commission (1991). "39 & 41 Princeton Street Architectural Conservation District Study Report" (PDF).
9. Boston Landmarks Commission (1983). "5–7 Broad Street Study Report" (PDF).
10. Boston Landmarks Commission (2002). "Aberdeen Architectural Conservation District Study Report" (PDF).
11. Boston Landmarks Commission (1977). "Adams-Nervine Asylum Study Report" (PDF).
12. "Alvah Kittredge House Study Report" (PDF). 2016.
13. Historic Boston (December 22, 2015). "Alvah Kittredge House Proposed For Boston Landmark Designation".
14. Boston Landmarks Commission (1978). "Arlington Street Church Study Report" (PDF).
15. Boston Landmarks Commission (1977). "Armory of the First Corps Cadets Study Report" (PDF).
16. Boston Landmarks Commission (1980). "The Austin Block Study Report" (PDF).
17. Boston Landmarks Commission (1983). "Back Bay Fens Study Report" (PDF).
18. Berg, Shary Page (n.d.). "Restoring Olmstead's Vision". Muddy River Restoration Project. Maintenance and Management Oversight Committee.
19. Boston Landmarks Commission (1995). "Batterymarch Building Study Report" (PDF).
20. Gehrman, Elizabeth (December 21, 2014). "When Boston first went big: Considering one of our original skyscrapers". The Boston Globe Magazine.
21. Boston Landmarks Commission (1979). "Bay State Road/Back Bay West Study Report" (PDF).
22. Boston Landmarks Commission (1983). "Bay Village Study Report" (PDF).
23. Boston Landmarks Commission (1983). "Blackstone Block Street Network Study Report" (PDF).
24. Rourke, Riley (January 24, 2025). "Boston City Hall, once named 4th ugliest building in the world, is now a historic landmark". CBS Boston. Retrieved January 27, 2025.
25. Fonseca, Camilo (January 25, 2025). "Boston City Hall, a polarizing building to many people, achieves historical landmark status". The Boston Globe. Retrieved January 27, 2025.
26. Boston Landmarks Commission (1977). "Boston Common Study Report" (PDF).
27. Boston Landmarks Commission (1977). "Boston Young Men's Christian Union Building Study Report" (PDF).
28. Boston Landmarks Commission (1977). "The Boylston Building Study Report" (PDF).
29. Boston Landmarks Commission (1977). "Brook Farm Study Report" (PDF).
30. Boston Landmarks Commission (n.d.). "The Burrage House Study Report" (PDF).
31. Larson, Todd (May 26, 2016). "In three Back Bay mansions, Gilded Age shines again". The Boston Globe .
32. Boston Landmarks Commission (2009). "Charles River Esplande Study Report" (PDF).
33. Boston Landmarks Commission (2011). "Charles River Speedway Administration Building" (PDF).
34. Boston Landmarks Commission (1978). "Charlestown Savings Bank Building" (PDF).
35. Boston Landmarks Commission (2011). "Christian Science Center Complex Study Report" (PDF).
36. Boston Landmarks Commission (1979). "The Church Green Buildings Study Report" (PDF).
37. Boston Landmarks Commission (1978). "Commonwealth Avenue Mall Study Report" (PDF).
38. Boston Landmarks Commission (1979). "Cox Building Study Report" (PDF).
39. Boston Landmarks Commission (1977). "Donald McKay House Study Report" (PDF).
40. Boston Landmarks Commission (n.d.). "Dorchester North Burying Ground Study Report" (PDF).
41. Boston Landmarks Commission (1980). "Dorchester Pottery Works Study Report" (PDF).
42. Boston Landmarks Commission (1977). "Ebenezer Hancock House Study Report" (PDF).
43. Boston Landmarks Commission (1996). "Edward Everett House Study Report" (PDF).
44. Boston Landmarks Commission (2011). "13–15 West Street Study Report" (PDF).
45. Fox, Jeremy C. (September 15, 2011). "Commission appears poised to declare former Transcendentalist bookstore a landmark". Boston Globe.
46. Boston Landmarks Commission (1981). "Eustis Street Area Study Report" (PDF).
47. Boston Landmarks Commission (1979). "The Exchange Building Study Report" (PDF).
48. Boston Landmarks Commission (1994). "Faneuil Hall Study Report" (PDF).
49. Boston Landmarks Commission (1978). "Federal Reserve Bank Study Report" (PDF).
50. Boston Landmarks Commission (2008). "The Fort Point Channel Landmark District Study Report" (PDF).
51. Boston Landmarks Commission (2005). "Fowler-Clark Farm Study Report" (PDF).
52. Boston Landmarks Commission (1980). "Franklin Park Study Report" (PDF).
53. Boston Landmarks Commission (n.d.). "George Milliken House Study Report" (PDF).
54. Boston Landmarks Commission (1992). "Gibson House (Interior) Study Report" (PDF).
55. Boston Landmarks Commission (1981). "Harrison Loring House Study Report" (PDF).
56. Boston Landmarks Commission (1977). "The Hayden Building Study Report" (PDF).
57. "Mayor Menino Dedicates Historic Hayden Building". Boston Planning & Development Agency. May 1, 2013.
58. Boston Landmarks Commission (1978). "International Trust Company Building Study Report" (PDF).
59. Boston Landmarks Commission (2011). "Isabella Stewart Garnder Museum Study Report" (PDF).
60. Boston Landmarks Commission (1977). "The Jacob Wirth Buildings Study Report" (PDF).
61. Boston Landmarks Commission (1978). "The James Blake House Study Report" (PDF).
62. Boston Landmarks Commission (1988). "James Michael Curley House Study Report" (PDF).
63. Boston Landmarks Commission (n.d.). "Lewis–Dawson Farmhouse at the Arnold Arboretum Study Report" (PDF).
64. "Harvard University Statement on Jabez Lewis House". Arnold Arboretum. October 18, 2007.
65. Boston Landmarks Commission (1985). "The Liberty Tree Building Study Report" (PDF).
66. Boston Landmarks Commission (1999). "The Loring-Greenough House Study Report" (PDF).
67. Boston Landmarks Commission (1998). "The Malcolm X — Ella Little-Collins House Study Report" (PDF).
68. Boston Landmarks Commission (1997). "The John W. McCormack Post Office and Court House Study Report" (PDF).
69. Boston Landmarks Commission (2004). "Mission Church Complex Study Report" (PDF).
70. Boston Landmarks Commission (2002). "Modern Theatre Study Report" (PDF).
71. Boston Landmarks Commission (1979). "Oak Square School Study Report" (PDF).
72. Boston Landmarks Commission (1994). "The Old State House Study Report" (PDF).
73. Boston Landmarks Commission (1983). "Paramount Theatre Study Report" (PDF).
74. Boston Landmarks Commission (1983). "The Proctor Building Study Report" (PDF).
75. Boston Landmarks Commission (1977). "Public Garden Study Report" (PDF).
76. Boston Landmarks Commission (1996). "Quincy Market Study Report" (PDF).
77. Chesto, Jon (June 4, 2015). "Plan for Faneuil Hall makeover runs into resistance". The Boston Globe .
78. Boston Landmarks Commission (1983). "The South End Study Report" (PDF).
79. Turchi, Megan (March 5, 2015). "South End Landmark District Has Complicated Past". Boston Globe.
80. Boston Landmarks Commission (1981). "Saint Botolph Area Study Report" (PDF).
81. Boston Landmarks Commission (1988). "Saint Gabriel's Monastery Complex Study Report" (PDF).
82. Logan, Tim (January 4, 2016). "Grad student housing proposed for Brighton property". The Boston Globe .
83. Boston Landmarks Commission (1985). "Theodore Parker Unitarian Church Study Report" (PDF).
84. Boston Landmarks Commission (1981). "Trinity Neighborhood House Study Report" (PDF).
85. Boston Landmarks Commission (1985). "The Tugboat Luna Study Report" (PDF).
86. Boston Landmarks Commission (1983). "United Shoe Machinery Corporation Building Study Report" (PDF).
87. Boston Landmarks Commission (1998). "The Vienna Brewery Complex Study Report" (PDF).
88. Boston Landmarks Commission (1983). "Wilbur Theatre Study Report" (PDF).
89. Boston Landmarks Commission (1977). "The William Monroe Trotter House Study Report" (PDF).
90. National Park Service. "William Monroe Trotter House". We Shall Overcome: Historic Places of the Civil Rights Movement. Archived from the original on January 4, 2008.

External links

• City of Boston, Boston Landmarks Commission
• Boston Landmark Commission, Study reports for the designated landmarks
• Old State House Museum
• Modern Theatre Shows
• Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum