Charlestown

Overview

Charlestown is Boston's oldest neighborhood, settled in 1628, one year before Boston proper. Perched across the inner harbor, it combines Revolutionary War history — Bunker Hill Monument and the USS Constitution — with a thriving waterfront community of restored row houses and harbor views.

Highlights

• Bunker Hill Monument: The 221-foot obelisk commemorating the 1775 battle (see separate entry).
• Charlestown Navy Yard: Home to USS Constitution and the WWII-era destroyer USS Cassin Young.
• Monument Avenue: A tree-lined street of Federal and Victorian townhouses leading to the monument.

History

Founded in 1628, Charlestown was burned by the British during the Battle of Bunker Hill in 1775 and rebuilt afterward. It was annexed by Boston in 1874. Once a gritty, working-class Irish neighborhood, it has gentrified significantly since the 1990s while retaining its tight-knit community character.

Visitor Tips

• Water taxi: A scenic ferry from Long Wharf to the Navy Yard avoids the walk over the bridge.
• Warren Tavern: Established in 1780, it's one of the oldest taverns in America — George Washington drank here.
• Duration: 1–1.5 hours (including Bunker Hill and USS Constitution).