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Downtown Boston

Boston geography stubsCentral business districts in the United StatesFinancial District, BostonNeighborhoods in Boston
Boston and Boston Harbor aerial
Boston and Boston Harbor aerial

Downtown Boston is the central business district of Boston, Massachusetts, United States. The city of Boston was founded in 1630. The largest of the city's commercial districts, Downtown is the location of many corporate or regional headquarters; city, county, state and federal government facilities; and many of Boston's tourist attractions. Similar to other central business districts in the U.S., Downtown has recently undergone a transformation that included the construction of new condos and lofts, renovation of historic buildings, and arrival of new residents and businesses. It is represented in the Boston City Council by District 2's Bill Linehan. Downtown is bound by the Back Bay, North End, Beacon Hill, and the South End areas. It includes Government Center and the Financial District.The area that is now Downtown Boston constituted much of the town/city proper prior to the city's dramatic expansion in the 1860s and 1870s. The Great Boston Fire of 1872 destroyed much of the neighborhood, especially between Summer, Washington, and Milk Streets. In the 1950s the Central Artery highway began operating, until the Big Dig (1982-2007) relocated it underground. In the 1960s and 1970s the enormous new Government Center complex replaced Scollay Square. Landmarks in Downtown Boston include the Greenway, Custom House Tower, City Hall, Faneuil Hall, Quincy Market, Old State House, Old South Meeting House, Massachusetts State House, Park Street Church, Boston Common, and Boston Public Garden.Educational institutions located downtown include Emerson College and Suffolk University. The four MBTA subway lines converge in the downtown area at the Downtown Crossing, Park Street, Government Center, and State stations. South Station is a transportation hub with subway, commuter rail, intercity bus, and Amtrak service.

Excerpt from the Wikipedia article Downtown Boston (License: CC BY-SA 3.0, Authors, Images).

Downtown Boston
Charles Street South, Boston

Geographical coordinates (GPS) Address Nearby Places
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Wikipedia: Downtown BostonContinue reading on Wikipedia

Geographical coordinates (GPS)

Latitude Longitude
N 42.35 ° E -71.066666666667 °
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Address

Charles Street South 78
02111 Boston
Massachusetts, United States
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Boston and Boston Harbor aerial
Boston and Boston Harbor aerial
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Cocoanut Grove fire

The Cocoanut Grove fire, which took place in Boston, Massachusetts, United States, on November 28, 1942, was the second-deadliest single-building fire in U.S. history, claiming 492 lives. The Cocoanut Grove was one of Boston's most popular nightspots, attracting many celebrity visitors. It was owned by Barnet "Barney" Welansky, who was closely connected to the Mafia and to Mayor Maurice J. Tobin. Fire regulations had been flouted: some exit-doors had been locked to prevent unauthorized entry, and the elaborate palm tree décor contained flammable materials. The air-conditioning used flammable gas due to wartime shortage of freon. During the first Thanksgiving weekend since the U.S. had entered World War II the Grove was filled to more than twice its legal capacity. The fire was initiated by an electrical short and fueled by methyl chloride in the air conditioning unit. Flames and smoke spread rapidly through all areas of the club, and people were unable to escape due in part to locked exit doors. Blame was directed at Welansky for violation of standards; he served nearly four years in jail before being released just weeks before his death. Local hospitals were especially well prepared to treat the casualties having been rehearsing emergency drills in response to possible wartime attacks on the East Coast. The crisis demonstrated the value of the new blood banks and stimulated important advances in the treatment of burn victims. Following the tragedy, many new laws were enacted for public establishments, including the banning of flammable decorations, a provision that emergency exits must be kept unlocked (from the inside), and that revolving doors cannot be the sole egress.