Boston in 1888 and 2015

[Ichingcarpenter]

[merrily]

1. Thanks, Ichingcarpenter. It's a great city in many ways and not great in others.

Overall, I far prefer it to Manhattan, though it took me a while to get to that point.

[Atman]

2. Very cool!

I've stood at that location many times. I, too, prefer chaotic jumble of Boston's streets to the Manhattan grid any day. It's a big city that is easy to get around. I grew up on the waterfront and watched as they tore down the old fish monger shacks to build Bicentennial Park and develop Fanuiel Hall. And spent many great nights watching concerts in the park, and on the steps of City Hall. Lots of great memories. Thanks!

[mythology]

3. You must be talking about some other Boston

The on in Massachusetts is just utterly awful to try to get anywhere due to too many one way streets, crosswalks every 5 feet and the general cluelessness of the population.

Boston basically needs to be razed and started over with streets that go straight, traffic signals that are coordinated and public transit that is modernized and useful for people who don't live on a train line.

[Gormy Cuss]

4. I agree with Atman, Boston is an easy city to navigate.

And the MBTA is a far better transit system than most in this country. People in Boston and surrounding areas have an extensive system of buses to complement the subways and commuter rail.


Short blocks are pedestrian-friendly. More cities should have so many crosswalks.

[Hassin Bin Sober]

5. It sounds like your beef is mainly with driving in Boston. Yeah, don't drive.

[Atman]

7. I thought "chaotic jumble of streets" was pretty clear.

Boston isn't a driving city. No need. There is a great mass transit system, and the city is relatively small. You can walk just about anywhere, hop on the T. Even if you live outside the city, the trains and buses connect to the subway. I learned to drive in Boston...scariest thing in my life!

[gratuitous]

6. I don't have a dog in this fight

Since I've never been to either city, but I found this amusing:

[Atman]

8. Abso-freakin'-lutely.

Boston is like a labyrinth. I'd love to see "Fast N Furious 8: Beantown." Hundreds of one-way streets too narrow to handle even a Smart Car. I love it! My wife and I get in a fight every time we drive there. She can't handle it.

[Art_from_Ark]

10. The one time I tried to drive in Boston

I was with two guys who claimed to know the city, but they didn't have a clue. I ended up in a big traffic jam, got stuck in the middle of an intersection, and was pulled over by a cop as soon as I got out of the intersection. Fun times.

[belcffub]

13. Driving in Boston is an Art form

Lived there for several years in the late 90's... at first it was impossible... then I found the rhythm and system in the labyrinth... after that (which took about a year) I could drive around most areas fairly quickly... still used the T most of the time but if I needed to drive I could...

Oh... one of the main things is never... ever try to go anywhere during rush hours... as I mostly drove after work and on weekends it was no big deal...

[smirkymonkey]

14. LOL!

I live in Boston now, used to live in NYC. This is hysterical! Mostly because I don't drive.

[lpbk2713]

9. I was born there in 1944 and I don't recognize Boston any more.

Change is understandable.

For years you could see the old John Hancock Bldg from almost
anywhere. Now you have to get the right angle for a view.

[AzDar]

11. Way cool.

Thanks for posting!

[petronius]

12. That's really fantastic! Are there any more?

[csziggy]

16. That seems to be the only one by this photographer - here's the source

And story to go with it: http://www.theatlantic.com/photo/2015/09/boston-then-and-now-1888-2015/405094/

[smirkymonkey]

15. Very cool!

Thanks for posting!

[Waldorf]

17. Thats a neat overlay.

Glad to see some old buildings surviving in modern cities. They have such detail in their architecture.