Page 102 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide 2017 - Boston

100  BOST ON AREA B Y AREA

w Prudential Center
800 Boylston St. Map 3 B3. Tel (617)
859-0648.  Prudential, Hynes
Convention Center/ICA. Skywalk:
Open Mar–Oct: 10am–10pm daily;
Nov–Feb: 10am–8pm daily. Closed
Thanksgiving, Dec 25. & 7 9
When it was erected in 1965,
the Prudential Tower was
the first skyscraper in the
Back Bay, rising 52 floors. Office
buildings and a shopping
center now girdle its base,
and the “Pru” is linked through
indoor walkways with the Inside the beautiful, stained-glass Mapparium, Christian Science Center
Hynes Convention Center and
the Sheraton Boston Hotel its shops to the more glamorous e Christian Science
in one unified complex. An Copley Place across busy Center
enclosed walkway even links Huntington Avenue. Apart from
the shops and food courts, the 175 Huntington Ave. Map 3 B3.
principal attraction of the “Pru”  Symphony. Mother Church:
is the Skywalk on the 50th Tel (617) 450-2000. Open free tours
floor. The Skywalk is the only noon–4pm Tue, 1–4pm Wed, noon–
5pm Thu–Sat. Library: Tel (617) 450-
360-degree aerial observatory 7000. Open 10am–4pm Tue–Sun (last
in Boston, and its location near entry to Mapparium 3:40pm). & 5
the top of Boylston Street hill 10am & 5pm Sun, noon & 7:30pm
provides striking views of the Wed (no evening service Jul–Aug). 7
Emerald Necklace (see p105) 8 ∑ marybakereddylibrary.org
as well as downtown and
the waterfront. Signs on the The world headquarters of
windows assist in identifying the First Church of Christ,
the landmarks below. A similar Scientist, occupies 14 acres on
view, which visitors do not the corner of Huntington and
need to pay for, is available at Massachusetts Avenues. Known
the Top of the Hub restaurant also as the Christian Science
on the 52nd floor. Some of the Church, this religious body was
bar win dows here face west, formed in 1879 by Mary Baker
so those having a drink can Eddy. The granite, Romanesque-
Prudential Tower viewed across the Christian enjoy spectacular sunset style Mother Church dates from
Science reflecting pool views over Boston. 1894, but it serves only as a
chapel at the rear of a grander
basilica, which was built in 1906
Mary Baker Eddy to seat 5,000 worshipers. The
Born in Concord, New Hampshire in 1821, Mary Baker was plagued basilica houses the western
with poor health for much of her early life. Fearing death after a hemisphere’s largest pipe organ,
severe fall in 1866, she sought comfort in her Bible, where she manufactured in Boston by
found an account of how Jesus had healed a palsied man. Her the Aeolian-Skinner Company.
own miraculous recovery led her to the principle of Christian Between 1968 and 1973 the
Science, a doctrine which emphasizes spiritual regeneration Christian Science complex
and healing through prayer alone. In 1875 she published expanded to its present design,
her ideas in Science and Health with Key to the which includes an elegant office
Scriptures, the textbook of Christian Science, tower, a reflecting pool, and a
and gathered students around her, monumental plaza.
includ ing Asa Gilbert Eddy, whom she The Mary Baker Eddy Library
married in 1877. Two years later she
organized the First Church of Christ, for the Betterment of Humanity,
Scientist, in Boston, from which on the Massachusetts Ave side
Christian Science churches spread of the complex, emphasizes
across the world. Mrs. Eddy remained Eddy’s inspiration rather than
the active leader of the Christian church doctrine. Visitors can
Science movement until her death in peer through a glass wall into
1910. She is buried at Mount Auburn the newsroom of the Christian
Cemetery in Cambridge. Science Monitor. The most
popular exhibit is the

100-101_EW_Boston.indd 100 09/01/17 12:14 pm
Eyewitness Travel LAYERS PRINTED:
Catalogue template “UK” LAYER
(Source v2.7)
Date 1st October 2013
Size 125mm x 217mm