In the first part of this two-part episode, we’re back on our home turn to explore the fascinating history of the North End: Boston’s Iconic Little Italy.
Your first stop takes you back to 1775, when the British invaded Boston at the beginning of the American Revolution. Retrace Paul Revere’s famous ride from his home in the North End to the Old North Church, where he hung two lanterns to indicate “two if by sea”. From there, it’s on to the waterfront, where a British warship nearly captured him as he crossed the Charles on his way to Lexington.
144 years later, in the same spot where Paul Revere crossed the Charles, a tank carrying 2.3 million gallons of molasses burst, sending a wave of molasses through the streets of the North End. To this day, the Great Molasses Flood remains one of the strangest disasters in history.
Cap off your day with a train ride to Wonderland. And stay tuned for Part 2, where we’ll have much more time to dive into the North End’s rich Italian heritage, as well as the best Italian food in the United States.
Published 7 September 2024