Boston: A Topographical History

by Walter Muir Whitehill

THIS EDITION HAS BEEN REPLACED BY A NEWER EDITION In this urbane and delightful book, Walter Muir Whitehill follows the course of Boston's history, describing the changing face of the city and the society that changed with it, through more than three hundred years. This edition includes a chapter describing the major changes of the city since 1958, as well as new pictures. Generously illustrated, written with a knowledge of and affection for a great city that are visible on every page, this book speaks equally to those who know Boston well and those who are discovering the city for the first time.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Architecture, Research, Urban Planning

Paperback

First published January 1, 1968

About the author

A medievalist who wrote extensively on the history of Boston, Walter Muir Whitehill received his AB and AM degrees from Harvard and his Ph.D. from the University of London. Whitehill served as the Director and Librarian of the Boston Athenaeum from 1946 to 1973 and was the editor for publications of the Colonial Society of Massachusetts from 1946 to 1978. From 1951 to 1972 Whitehill was a professor at Harvard University.

Reviews

[Annie · Rating 2 out of 5]

NGL, this one was pretty dry. Academic, which isn't a bad thing, but dullishly so.

That said, it has its moments. The beginning, focusing on the natural landmarks of pre-city Boston, and the part about the Victorian era (and the building of Back Bay) were both interesting. Photographs, many dating to the mid-1800s, were phenomenal and plentiful.

The original author, Whitehill, narrates the story of Boston in a detached, passionless fashion, then towards the end of the first edition (he adds another chapter some years after the first, and then there are about 75 pages written by Kennedy updating to modern day) sudden breaks into first person and starts waxing lyrical about his hopes for the city. It felt odd, but I liked what he had to say. "I can only hope that there will be no wholesale redevelopment of the North End by external and arbitrary authority, and that future improvements there will be made by local property owners and occupants in their own way and on their own terms." YES. What a lovely statement, especially when you consider the author is probably a born-and-bred Boston elite class member in the 1950s.

Oh, yes. Speaking of the 1950s. This book is solidly dated. We have referenced to "colored people" and married women are referred to exclusively by their husband's names (it took me a second to connect that "Mrs. John Gardner" is the lovely- and far more important and famous than her husband- Isabella Stewart Gardner).

[W. Nikola-Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

For its time--the 1960s--Muir's text (Whitehill would join him later) on the topographic changes to Boston's peninsula and its various land-making activities dominated the field. It surveyed for the first time these changes in one book. Although it rambles at times, even gets stuck in a few cup-de-sacs, it still remains informative and useful. Only Nancy Seasholes' book, Gaining Ground, surpasses it in style and substance.

[Chris Lavallee · Rating 2 out of 5]

I learned a lot about the interesting history of how the elites shaped Boston in the 1700s and 1800s. There was very little said about the people and culture though. I would be interested in a more modern take on urban development in Boston.

[Christina Gagliano · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating look at how the city of Boston was literally formed from its own land and the sea surrounding it.

[Kevin Moynihan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Classic on the subject.

Referenced for an entire Chapter of The City-State of Boston by Mark Peterson; Princeton Univ. Press; 2019

[Charlie Knox · Rating 5 out of 5]

a wonderful book.

[Laura Sackton · Rating 3 out of 5]

After living so close to it for my entire life, and feeling some connection and pride for it despite never having lived in the city itself, I've finally decided it's time to learn something about Boston. I started with this thick, rather dense, dry, and academic architectural history. I loved the first half, which was all about the building of Boston, the reshaping of the Shawmut peninsula, and the whys and hows of all the land building that made Boston. The chapters on more recent history slid into a dry, traditional, rather narrow architectural review and critique of the city. Still, I found the whole book fascinating, the maps and illustrations wonderful. After reading it I have a much better sense of the physical space the city takes up, and can relate places I know to each other in ways I couldn't before.

[Jlord · Rating 5 out of 5]

Anyone who has visited Boston has heard everything I learned from this book. It covered the perfect range of physical (built environment) and social (culture trends) courses of history to be an immensely satisfying book for me. I've retained a lot, due in part to excellent writing and how often I repeat it to anyone I can subject it upon. I even thought it was quite witty.

[J · Rating 5 out of 5]

An absolutely essential book for Boston newcomers and residents alike. The original book was written at the dawn of the urban renewal era in the 1950s, but the updated chapters evaluate these projects and bring the reader up to the year 2000 or so. More of a history of Boston's built environment, the book chronicles the political and physical expansion of the city over the centuries.

[Jacqueline Genetti Sullivan · Rating 4 out of 5]

very interesting book.. i read the one that ended with the 70's and the development of City Hall & Government Center, but obviously the most interesting stuff is in the beginning & dealing with the three mountains & the land development. umm.. or maybe i'm just a dork.

[Eric Pollard · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great read for anyone interested in the development of Boston, tracing the city's morphology from 1630 to 1975. Of particular interest to me was the temporal nature of many of the buildings and the denizens seemingly endless energy for reinventing their surroundings.

[Matthias Ferber]

(rereading)

[Amitha · Rating 5 out of 5]

fascinating history of Boston.

[Gerrit · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the very best primers on the city--a must read for any new resident. You would never imagine that landfill could be so interesting, or shape the culture of a city to such an extent.