Boston's Long Wharf

While in Boston, we visited the Museum of Fine Arts twice, because once is really not enough! Every time you go, there is something new or wonderful to see, something one didn't see before.

This time I found a wonderful painting by Fitz Hugh Lane called Boston Harbor, painted in 1850. It got me to thinking about the history of Boston harbor.

Boston's Long Wharf was build in from 1710 to 1721, and it was considered the busiest pier in the busiest port in America in Colonial times. It extends nearly a half mile into the harbor. Originally, it was built from the shoreline of Faneuil Hall and was 1/3 mile long. It extended into deep waters and thus allowed larger ships to dock and unload directly to warehouses in the area. It was constructed by Captain Oliver Noyes, and was considered the focus of the great harbor. It was originally known as Oliver's Dock!

Painter John Singleton Copley spent his childhood on the wharf where his mother had a tobacco shop. A famed tavern called the Bunch of Grapes was located there as well. In 1760 the Gardiner Building, once home to John Hancock's counting house was built, still standing today as a restaurant!