Lunch in Boston and More Sights

The Bull and Finch Pub, founded in 1969, became the original inspiration for the setting of the TV show, Cheers, which premiered in 1982 and remains one of America's most beloved sitcoms of all time.  The show ran between 1982 and 1993.  The pub is located in one of Boston's famed grand mansions, "The Hampshire House" in Beacon Hill.

It was our lunch destination on day two, and was just a short jaunt on foot from Tremont Street through Boston Common to Beacon Street. The pub was officially renamed Cheers Beacon Hill in 2002.

[Jerry]

Cheers pub is definitely a tourist attraction.  A large lunch crowd was there when we arrived. Entrance to the pub is down the steps to the lower level.

For the record, that's iced tea in our mugs - nothing stronger!  ;-)

We ordered typical pub grub - Jerry got fish and chips and I got a chicken bar-b-que sandwich. Both were yummy.

After the crowd thinned out I was able to take some pictures.  The Back Room is where we ate.

I bought Jerry a DVD in the gift shop - Fan Favorites, The Best of Cheers - containing eight great episodes.  Now whenever I hear his hearty laughter, I know what he's watching!  ;-)

After lunch we rode the trolley to stop #8 - Boston Public Library.  

Also at stop #8 is Trinity Episcopal Church, founded in 1733.  It is situated in Copley Square across from the Boston Public Library, and was built by one of America's greatest architects, Henry Hobson Richardson. Made of granite and sandstone, the church is considered a masterpiece in Richardson Romanesque Style.  It is the only church in the United States, and the only building in Boston that has been honored as one of the "Ten Most Significant Buildings in the United States" by the American Institute of Architects.  It was designated a National Historical Landmark in 1970.   Tours are conducted throughout the day for $7 a person, but we didn't go on a tour.

Boston Public Library [pictured below] was founded in 1848 by the Massachusetts Legislature, and was the first large, free-lending public library in the United States. It contains over 23 million items, making it the second largest public library in the United States surpassed only by the Library of Congress.  The library, also known as the McKim building, faces Copley Square. It was constructed in 1889 of pink Milford granite, and it's architectural style is Renaissance.

The interior of the library is beautiful.  Below is the Copley Square entrance.

On the third floor are the "Triumph of Religion" murals painted by John Singer Sargent from 1890-1919.

 ~ Italianate Courtyard ~

Afternoon Tea is served at the library Monday thru Saturday from 11:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. by the Courtyard Restaurant for $35.  They have an impressive selection of loose leaf teas.  We didn't have Afternoon Tea since we had just eaten, but it's definitely on my list for a return visit.  

We got back on the trolley which took us by stop #15 - the Massachusetts State House.  Its most dramatic feature is the magnificent gold dome - leafed with 13 pounds of real gold.  We enjoyed its beauty from the trolley.

Across from the State House, is the Robert Gould Shaw Memorial.  The bronze memorial to the gallant 54th Massachusetts Regiment took 14 years to craft.

Then it was back to stop #1 where we'd board the trolley to take us back to our hotel at 5:30 p.m. While waiting we walked across the street to the Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy Greenway - a 1.5 mile string of parks - where there was a fun carousel.  I was wishing I was a kid again so I could ride it!

We packed a lot of interesting and fun activities into day #2.  Next post will be day #3.