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East Boston

Initially a prime location for Boston’s popular shipbuilding industry, and now the home of the Boston’s Logan International Airport, the culture and environment of East Boston is deeply representative of the numerous cultures and nationalities that have made the neighborhood home.

History

The neighborhood of East Boston was originally five separate islands, which were privately owned and used for grazing cattle for much of the city’s early history. Beginning in 1833, the owner of Noodle Island, General William H. Sumner, formed the East Boston Company with the intention of developing East Boston for residential and commercial settlement. Before disbanding in 1928, the company oversaw much of the shaping and development of the neighborhood.

Due to its proximity to the water, East Boston initially developed as a shipbuilding powerhouse by the launch of its first ship in 1839. This drew a number of shipyards to the East Boston waterfront, putting Boston on the map as a prime location for shipbuilding in the United States.

Culture

East Boston is a neighborhood known for its cultural diversity. Historically a working class neighborhood, the population of East Boston is largely made up of Central and South American, and Asian immigrants. Due to its status as a popular immigration entry point during the nineteenth century and the abundance jobs available in neighborhood’s thriving ship building industry, East Boston began developing its large and diverse immigrant population in the 1890s. It is this mingling of nationalities which has helped to shape the current culture of East Boston.

Restaurants

Thanks to the cultural diversity of East Boston, there are a large number of eclectic and exotic restaurants across the neighborhood.

Those looking for Latin American cuisine should check out El Paisa Restaurante. Menu prices are very reasonable. El Paisa Restaurante is located at the intersection of Bennington Street and Saratoga Street, right off of Boston Harbor.

Interested in some pizza? Dough East Boston is a popular, reasonably priced option in the heart of East Boston. Located on the intersection of Border Street and Maverick Street, Dough East Boston is a neighborhood favorite and open six days a week.

Hotels

With Logan Airport located in East Boston, there are a number of hotels within the neighborhood to accommodate arriving travelers. There are a number of business class accommodations within the direct vicinity of the airport: The Hyatt Harborside, Hilton Boston Logan Airport, and Embassy Suites Boston are just a few of the available options.

Attractions

East Boston is the home of the historic Suffolk Downs racetrack. Boasting free admission and parking, the track opens at 11 a.m. Races are run every 25 minutes. While children are welcome, minors under the age of 18 must be under adult supervision at all times. For those spending a day at the races, the track features a number of available dining options.

The Terrace offers tiered tables over looking the finish line as well as individual television monitors at each table. The unique restaurant offers a number of entrees ranging from seafood to burgers and sandwiches.

Those flying into Boston will be familiar with East Boston, as Logan Airport is one of the major fixtures of the neighborhood. The airport opened to passenger service in 1929, and was initially called Boston Municipal Airport. Since then, the airport has undergone a number of expansions before reaching its current size.

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