Boston, MA

Boston on When It Was is 30 addresses and the 39 businesses that have occupied them, the oldest from 1714. 7 are still open today; 32 are gone, and 11 of the buildings themselves have been demolished. Every entry below opens a page with the full history of that address, and the map lets you slide the year and watch the city change.

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Doyle's Cafe

3484 Washington Street · 1882–2019 · 5 businesses here

The Rathskeller (The Rat)

552 Commonwealth Avenue · 1974–1997 · 4 businesses here

Jordan Marsh Company

Boston · 1861–1975

The iconic Jordan Marsh flagship store dominated this corner of Boston for 115 years, housing the nation's first departmentalized store and …

Anthony's Pier 4

140 Northern Avenue · 1963–2013 · 2 businesses here

Charles Street Jail

215 Charles Street · 1851–1990

Combat Zone

Washington Street between Boylston and Kneeland Streets, Boston, MA 02111 · 1962–1993

Durgin-Park

340 Faneuil Hall Marketplace · 1827–2019

Fairmont Copley Plaza

138 St. James Avenue · 1912–present

Boston, decade by decade

• 1710s
  1 opened — Green Dragon Tavern (original)See the map in 1715 →
• 1790s
  1 opened — Bell in Hand TavernSee the map in 1795 →
• 1820s
  2 opened — Durgin-Park, Union Oyster HouseSee the map in 1825 →
• 1830s
  1 opened — Scollay SquareSee the map in 1835 →
• 1840s
  2 opened — The Old Howard Theatre, Old Howard Theatre (Howard Athenaeum)See the map in 1845 →
• 1850s
  2 opened — Omni Parker House, Charles Street JailSee the map in 1855 →
• 1860s
  3 opened — Jordan Marsh, Jacob Wirth Restaurant, Jordan Marsh CompanySee the map in 1865 →
• 1870s
  3 opened — Locke-Ober, Hotel Vendome, Steaming Kettle (Oriental Tea Company)See the map in 1875 →
• 1880s
  2 opened — Doyle's Cafe, Filene's Department StoreSee the map in 1885 →
• 1900s
  3 opened — Filene's Basement, Boston Opera House (1909), Filene's Basement (original)See the map in 1905 →
• 1910s
  3 opened — Purity Distilling Company Molasses Tank, No Name Restaurant, Fairmont Copley PlazaSee the map in 1915 →
• 1920s
  6 opened — Boston Garden, Jimmy's Harborside Restaurant, Cocoanut Grove, The Original Ritz-Carlton Boston, and 2 moreSee the map in 1925 →
• 1930s
  1 opened — Hi-Hat ClubSee the map in 1935 →
• 1950s
  1 opened — StoryvilleSee the map in 1955 →
• 1960s
  5 opened — Naked i Cabaret, Anthony's Pier 4, The Boston Tea Party (concert venue), Combat Zone, and 1 moreSee the map in 1965 →
• 1970s
  2 opened — The Rathskeller (The Rat), The RathskellerSee the map in 1975 →
• 2000s
  1 opened — Boston Marathon Finish Line (Marathon Sports)See the map in 2005 →

Still here, and gone

By kind of place

Restaurant (10)

Anthony's Pier 4 · Jimmy's Harborside Restaurant · Locke-Ober · Jacob Wirth Restaurant · Charlie's Sandwich Shoppe · No Name Restaurant · Durgin-Park · Union Oyster House · and 2 more

Hotel (4)

Omni Parker House · Hotel Vendome · The Original Ritz-Carlton Boston · Fairmont Copley Plaza

Department Store (3)

Filene's Basement · Filene's Department Store · Jordan Marsh

Bar (2)

Doyle's Cafe · The Rathskeller

Music Venue (2)

The Rathskeller (The Rat) · The Boston Tea Party (concert venue)

Jazz Club (2)

Storyville · Hi-Hat Club

Entertainment District (2)

Scollay Square · Combat Zone

Theater (2)

The Old Howard Theatre · Old Howard Theatre (Howard Athenaeum)

Every place in Boston (30)

• Anthony's Pier 4 140 Northern Avenue · 1963–2013 · 2 businesses
• Bell in Hand Tavern 45 Union Street, Boston, MA 02108 · 1795–present
• Boston Garden 150 Causeway Street · 1928–1995
• Boston Marathon Finish Line (Marathon Sports) 671 Boylston Street · 2001–present
• Boston Opera House (1909) 367 Huntington Avenue · 1909–1957
• Charles Street Jail 215 Charles Street · 1851–1990
• Charlie's Sandwich Shoppe 576 Columbus Avenue · 1927–2014 · 2 businesses
• Cocoanut Grove 17 Piedmont Street · 1927–1942
• Combat Zone Washington Street between Boylston and Kneeland Streets, Boston, MA 02111 · 1962–1993
• Doyle's Cafe 3484 Washington Street · 1882–2019 · 5 businesses
• Durgin-Park 340 Faneuil Hall Marketplace · 1827–2019
• Fairmont Copley Plaza 138 St. James Avenue · 1912–present
• Filene's Basement (original) 426 Washington Street, Boston, MA 02108 · 1909–2007
• Green Dragon Tavern (original) Union Street, Boston, MA (original demolished; modern namesake at 11 Marshall Street) · 1714–1854
• Hilltop Steak House 855 Broadway (Route 1), Saugus, MA 01906 (closed; cactus sign preserved) · 1961–2013
• Jacob Wirth Restaurant 31 Stuart Street · 1868–2018
• Jordan Marsh Company Boston · 1861–1975
• Locke-Ober 3 Winter Place · 1875–2012
• No Name Restaurant 15 Fish Pier Street East · 1917–2019
• Old Howard Theatre (Howard Athenaeum) 34 Howard Street, Boston, MA (demolished) · 1845–1961
• Omni Parker House 60 School Street · 1855–present
• Purity Distilling Company Molasses Tank 529 Commercial Street · 1915–1919
• Regina Pizzeria 11 1/2 Thacher Street · 1926–present
• Scollay Square 1 City Hall Plaza · 1838–1962
• Steaming Kettle (Oriental Tea Company) 63-65 Court Street, Boston, MA 02108 · 1873–present
• The Boston Tea Party (concert venue) 53 Berkeley Street, Boston, MA 02116 (later 15 Lansdowne Street) · 1967–1971
• The Old Howard Theatre 34 Howard Street · 1846–1953
• The Original Ritz-Carlton Boston 15 Arlington Street · 1927–2019
• The Rathskeller (The Rat) 552 Commonwealth Avenue · 1974–1997 · 4 businesses
• Union Oyster House 41 Union Street · 1826–present