JOURNEY TO THE CENTRE OF BOSTON

NEW ENGLAND AQUARIUM

New England Aquarium is considered one of the finest in the northeastern United States. The goal of the aquarium's founders was to create an underwater experience for the visitor and to serve as a cultural institution that would reconnect Boston to its waterfront.

The New England Aquarium attracted nearly a half million visitors during its first year of operation. One of its premiere attractions was its Giant Ocean Tank, opened in early 1970 as the largest circular, salt water tank in the world at the time of its construction. Visitors flocked here to see Myrtle the green sea turtle, who still remains a resident of this enormous tank.

In the mid-1970s, the aquarium began a program dedicated to responding to stranded

marine mammals in the New England area.

Visitors could now enjoy sea lions and dolphins in addition to the other sea life on

display at the aquarium. The 80s saw the addition of the Northern Waters of the World gallery. "Boston Harbor: The Place, the Problem, the Plan" became a permanent exhibit in the Boston Harbor View Room as well.

In the mid-90s, the New England Aquarium broke ground for a new West Wing, which was completed in 1998. The facility also opened the new Aquarium Medical Center to the public, which gave visitors an inside look at animal care. A larger gift shop and café were also added.

BUNKER HILL MONUMENT

The obelisk that marks the site of the Battle of Bunker Hill was the first obelisk built in America. The cornerstone of the monument was laid in 1825 but it took 17 years to build the 221 foot (67 meter) granite monument because the supporters of the project kept running out of funds. As a matter of fact, the monument committee had to eventually sell 10 of the 15 acres they had purchased for the monument in order to complete its construction.

In 1881 a statue honoring Colonel Prescott was placed in front of the obelisk. The statue, created by American sculptor William Wetmore Story, depicts the colonel at the moment right before he gave the command to fire. Since 1976, care of the monument has been overseen by the U.S. National Park Service and the site is a stop along Boston's Freedom Trail and is part of Boston National Historic Park.

There is no elevator in the obelisk, so to get to the top, visitors must climb 294 steps. Those who climb all the way to the top are rewarded with great views of Boston.

Sources  :

                        www.wikipedia.org

                        www.traveleye.com