I’ve always enjoyed looking at old maps of Boston that show how the coastline has changed over the past 400 years, as more and more “man made land” was created. I was just talking about this over the weekend with a few friends, and then today National Geographic put out a piece, “How Boston Made Itself Bigger,” with some great maps illustrating the changes.
Here’s the simplest view, comparing 1630 to today:
A few things:
- As a South Boston resident for 10 years, I’m getting tired of my mom telling me that when sea levels rise, I’m dangerously close to the water. Look mom, I don’t live in the filled in area! (and yes, I’ve checked the topographic maps as well)
- Castle Island used to be an island!
- I suspect the Back Bay neighborhood is nicer than the original “Back Bay”
- I suspect the original “South Bay” was nicer than the South Bay Shopping Plaza
- “Noddles Island” is a better name than East Boston