Boston’s North End Historical Museum is Open – and It’s Great!
It’s a marvelous thing to see hard work pay off and a vision realized!
For 7 years, Tom Damigella, President of Boston’s North End Historical Society, has envisioned a North End Historical Museum, a place where people from around the world could visit to learn about the historic North End, America’s first neighborhood — and still one of its most vibrant. And now his vision has been achieved!
The new museum opened in July and it’s already a huge success! This special place depicts the nearly 400-year history of the North End – from its important colonial and Revolutionary history, and later, as home to successive waves of Irish, Jewish, Portuguese, and Italian immigrants. Kate and I had the opportunity to tour it early, and all we could say was “WOW!”
It is located at 3 Prince St. on Boston’s Freedom Trail, adjacent to historic North Square and only steps from the Paul Revere House.
The team has done an amazing job telling the 400-year history of the country’s “first neighborhood,” complete with an impressive digital timeline that lets you select which historical era(s) you’d like to see, interactive “please touch” exhibits that give you a flavor of the neighborhood, and films, presentations, and artifacts that bring North End history to life. The dedicated team of board members, volunteers, and talented designers from Trivium Interactive and Vector5 have turned this space into a true tribute to the historic North End.
The museum does n
ot encompass a large footprint, but my wife, Kate, and I were particularly impressed by how much information is contained within, while making great use of open space. If you are a fan of history and/or the North End, you will enjoy the neighborhood’s first museum.
For Tom Damigella, this has been a true labor of love, and he has received “heartwarming” support for the project. He offered profound thanks to restaurateur and business owner Frank DePasquale, who purchased the real estate in this prime location; to State Rep. Aaron Michiewitz, who was instrumental in obtaining a $200,000 state grant to anchor the fundraising effort; to the “fantastic” support from the community and the general public during an aggressive 16-month fundraising campaign to fully fund the museum; and to an “enthusiastic and devoted” team of board members, volunteers, and talented designers from Trivium Interactive and Vector5, whose work will make the museum an educational, interesting, interactive, and inspiring place to visit.
The Museum is open Tuesday-Sunday (closed Monday) from 10:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The very reasonable admission price is $10 for adults; $8 for seniors (62+) and those with a military or student ID; $5 for children aged 13-18; and free for children 12 and under.
It’s hard to imagine a more enjoyable experience than visiting this new museum and then going out to eat the best Italian food in the country at one of the many outstanding North End restaurants.
I’ve set two books in the North End (Dark Tide and The Boston Italians), I conduct regular neighborhood tours, and my dad and his entire family grew up there. I love the neighborhood, and I’m thrilled that this museum will chronicle its amazing history. I thank Tom and his entire team for first envisioning such a place, and then refusing to rest until their dream was achieved!
Please make time for a visit! To find out more, visit the museum’s website here.
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