Charm Galore:Five Attractions in the Public Garden
Weeping willows, swan boats gliding on a lagoon, an adorable iron and stone footbridge, and walking paths that meander among landscaped flower beds. Boston's Public Garden was designed in Victorian times as the first public botanical garden in the United States. This is one of the loveliest spots in all of Boston- and a wonderful place to take a leisurely stroll.
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Located at the Arlington Street Gate, this is an impressive bronze statue of the first president looking westward down the Commonwealth Avenue Mall.
This is where the botanical garden aspect of the Public Garden really comes into play. In the grand Victorian tradition the very formal flower beds are planted with exotic tropicals and showy colors. It all makes a great photo-op.
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Since the 1870’s, the enchanting Swan Boats have taken generations of Bostonians and visitors on a 15 minute ride around the Public Garden lagoon. The boats accommodate 20 people and are pedaled by college students with very strong legs. Note: A Swan Boat ride costs just $2.75 for adults, $1.50 for children, making this one of Boston’s least expensive tourist attractions!
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Follow the squeals of delighted children who come to the corner of Beacon and Charles Streets to visit the bronze sculptures of Mrs. Mallard and her brood of eight ducklings- Jack, Kack, Lack, et al, by local artist Nancy Schön. The sculpture is based on the beloved children’s story “Make Way For Ducklings” by Robert McCloskey which is set in Boston’s Public Garden. (You can buy a copy of the book at the Swan Boat ticket kiosk)
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Located just inside (and to the right) of the Public Garden’s Arlington Street Gate, a pink semi-circle piece of granite is etched with the names of more than 200 September 11th victims who were residents of Massachusetts. Massachusetts has a strong connection to the events of September 11th- two of the hijacked planes departed from Boston’s Logan Airport.
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A place of pilgrimage for health professionals, the Ether Monument commemorates the discovery of anesthesia at Mass General in1846. Located towards the Beacon and Arlington Street corner of the park, the tall marble and granite monument features the Good Samaritan and the very cool inscriptions- “Neither shall there be any more pain” and “In gratitude for the relief of human suffering by the inhaling of ether.”
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