West end

Welcome to the West End!

The West End neighborhood of Boston was once the most densely populated area of the city, with 174 persons per acre.  From the mid-1800s to the mid-20^thcentury the neighborhood was considered a “slum” by the wealthy and merchant classes.  In point of fact, it was a tightly knit community of Irish, Italian and Jewish immigrants who cherished their neighborhood. The 1958 urban “renewal” (removal) plan has been well documented as what not to do, after displacing 2,700 working poor families with 477 high-rise and high-rent housing units.

Notable residents of the old neighborhood include architect Charles Bulfinch, media magnate Sumner Redstone, Lawrence Berk, founder of Berklee School of Music and actor Leonard Nimoy.

Landmarks include acclaimed Massachusetts General Hospital, North Station, a major transportation hub for Amtrak, Commuter Rail and two subway lines.  The TD Garden, New England’s largest sports and entertainment arena, home to the NHL’s Boston Bruins and NBA’s Boston Celtics franchises and host to world-renowned concerts, family shows and other sporting events can also be found in the West End.