Gazing up at the Five Beacons for the Lost Half Mile, imagine this space before 2012. It was known as the “Lost Half Mile”. A desolate, inaccessible area under Boston’s Zakim Bridge and highway ramps. The Five Beacons for the Lost Half Mile now stand as a testament to transformation. These perforated stainless steel sculptures, lit from within, guide you through this once-forgotten space. They illuminate a path through what was once an industrial wasteland of rail yards, polluted ditches, and wharf warehouses. Commercial activity dating back to the 1830s shaped this landscape. It left it scarred and cut off from the city. The completion of the Central Artery Project in 2012 finally opened this area to the public. The Five Beacons for the Lost Half Mile emerged as part of a new urban park, designed in collaboration with MDC planners. Now managed by the Department of Conservation and Recreation, the park offers a continuous pedestrian passage. It connects the Science Museum area to North Point Park, across the Millers River to Rutherford Avenue in Charlestown. It also winds through Paul Revere Park, leading to the Charles River Dam and the Charlestown Navy Yard. These beacons symbolize not just a physical connection but a reclaiming of history. They transform a forgotten space into a vibrant part of Boston’s urban fabric. The Five Beacons for the Lost Half Mile serve as a beautiful reminder of Boston’s resilience and ability to reimagine and revitalize its landscape.
Rumney Marsh Burial Ground
A chill wind whispers through the aged headstones. This is Rumney Marsh Burial Ground. This historic cemetery dates back to