home to the famed Swan Boats from April through September. BOSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY 700 Boylston St., Copley Square, 617-5365400, bpl.org. Mon–Thu 9 a.m.–9 p.m., Fri & Sat ’til 5 p.m., Sun 1–5 p.m. Free. Art & Architecture tours: Mon at 2:30 p.m.; Tue & Thu at 6 p.m.; Wed, Fri & Sat at 11 a.m.; Sun at 2 p.m. The first publicly supported municipal library in the world hosts one million visitors a year, who come to view this architectural masterpiece and its collection of more than five million books. Film festivals, exhibits and children’s programs run throughout the year. DORCHESTER HEIGHTS MONUMENT Thomas Park, South Boston, nps.gov/bost/ historyculture/dohe.htm. Park open dawn to dusk. Monument closed to the public. Completed in 1902 and on the National Register of Historic Places, this white marble Georgian revival tower commemorates the 1776 victory by George Washington’s Continental Army, which drove the British from Boston Harbor when they positioned an array of cannons near this site.
EMERALD NECKLACE Downtown Boston to Dorchester, 617-5222700, emeraldnecklace.org. Stretching from Boston Common to Franklin Park, this system of green spaces—which features six gems designed by Frederick Law Olmsted, the father of American landscape architecture—offers a range of experiences, from quiet, shaded areas to recreational activities like sailing, hiking, golf, fishing and softball. The Emerald Necklace’s attractions—including Arnold Arboretum and Jamaica Pond— are as diverse as the New England seasons.
THE FIRST CHURCH OF CHRIST, SCIENTIST
The original 1894 Mother Church is at the heart of the Christian Science Plaza, situated on a 14-acre campus. The Romanesque structure is made from New Hampshire granite with stained glass windows illustrating Biblical events. 250 Massachusetts Ave., 617-450-2000, christianscience.com. Tours: Mon, Tue & Thu–Sat 10 a.m.–5 p.m., Wed 1–5 p.m., Sun 11 a.m.–4:30 p.m., every half hour. Services: Sun at 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. Free.
THE FIRST PLACE TO SEE IN BOSTON
See Boston like you’ve never seen it at the Skywalk Observatory. Located at the Prudential Center – 800 Boylston Street, Boston 617.859.0648 | skywalkboston.com
Photo: JeffreyDodgeRogers.com
ABOVE PHOTO: © FIRST CHURCH OF CHRIST, SCIENTIST
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