Page 28 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide 2017 - Boston

26  INTRODUCING BOST ON

Growth and Destruction The Early 20th Century
The end of the Civil War in 1865 led to a Following World War I, changing political
decline in shipping, but the Industrial and cultural attitudes across
Revolution, specifically in cotton the U.S. increasingly left
and wool manufacturing, government clashing
enabled Boston to thrive violently with the
again and grow both in wishes of the people.
size and population. The Life in Boston was no
Back Bay had been filled exception. The Boston
and some of the neigh­ Police Strike of 1919
boring towns already marks one of the most
annexed. However, on dramatic chapters in the
November 9, 1872, Boston U.S. Labor movement. As
suffered a terrible setback as The Great Fire of Boston, many as 1,290 policemen filed
flames from a fire that started November 9, 1872 complaints over low wages,
in a dry goods store spread to unsanitary stations, and lack
warehouses downtown, destroying 765 of overtime compensation and sought
buildings. Newspaper headlines declared affiliation with the American Federation of
a loss of $250 million with “rich men Labor (A.F.L.). When the strike started, mobs
beggared in a day.” The city recovered smashed windows and looted stores. After
quickly, though, rebuilding and revitalizing a skirmish with state militia, in which two
textile and shoe manufacturing. were wounded and nine killed, A.F.L.
Public institutions also continued to president Samuel Gompers persuaded
flourish. The Museum of Fine Arts, Boston the police to return to work.
(see pp106–9) was opened in 1876, and the However, this was not just a time of
Boston Symphony Orchestra (see p160) conflict, but also one when popular culture
founded in 1881. The first subway in the
United States, the “T,” opened in 1897.
In Boston and the surrounding areas
educational establishments such as Harvard,
Radcliffe, the Massachusetts Institute of
Technology (MIT), the New England
Conservatory of Music, and Boston University
all played their part in making the city a
mecca for young students. The renowned
collector of art Isabella Stewart Gardner
(see p105), a rich, famously outspoken, and
well­connected woman, opened her house
to the public on New Year’s Day, 1903. Matthew James Dailey, a captain during the Boston Police Strike

1897 The “T,” the U.S.’s
first subway, opens.
1872 The 1884 First Irish 1905 “Honey Fitz” 1919 Boston Police
Great Fire mayor, Hugh elected mayor Strike results in riots
of Boston O’Brien, elected
1875 1900 1925 1950
1876 Museum Museum 1962 Edward
of Fine Arts, of Fine 1912 Kennedy
Boston opened Arts, Fenway 1914 James Michael Curley elected to
Boston Park opens elected mayor for the first time U.S. Senate
1881 Boston Symphony exhibit
Orchestra formed 1903 Isabella Stewart Gardner opens her house to the public

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