Seaport and Fort Point Channel
Boston's newest waterfront — the ICA cantilevers over the water, replica Tea Party ships anchor Fort Point Channel, and Harpoon Brewery sits beside the working cranes of Conley Terminal.
Griffin's Wharf, December 1773
The Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum sits atop the historic location of Griffin's Wharf, where on the evening of December 16, 1773, roughly 100 Sons of Liberty — some disguised as Mohawk — boarded the Dartmouth, Eleanor, and Beaver and pitched 342 chests of East India Company tea into the harbor.
At a Glance
- Route
- Congress Street Bridge → Boston Tea Party Ships → Children's Museum → ICA → Fan Pier → Commonwealth Pier
- Distance
- 2.0 miles
- Duration
- 60–90 minutes
- Difficulty
- Easy · fully paved
Getting Here
- T Access
- South Station (Red/Silver); Courthouse (Silver) for Fan Pier
Amenities
- Rest Stops
- Fort Point cafés, ICA plaza, Lawn on D, Harpoon Beer Hall
The Journey
The Seaport and Fort Point Channel represent Boston's newest waterfront neighborhood — a district that has rapidly transitioned from an industrial backwater into a mature, built-out urban center. Here, the Harborwalk is largely continuous, knitting together a dense corridor of world-class museums, public art, and entertainment venues that sit alongside the infrastructure of a working international port.
The district serves as a dramatic bridge between the 19th-century brick warehouses of the Fort Point Channel Historic District and the glass-and-steel towers of the modern Seaport.
The Fort Point Channel Promenade
- 1
Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum
306 Congress St
Full-scale replicas of the Eleanor and Beaver moored at Griffin's Wharf, where in December 1773 the Sons of Liberty dumped 342 chests of tea into the harbor. Fully immersive since its 2012 reopening — includes Abigail's Tea Room.
- 2
Boston Children's Museum
308 Congress St
Sits directly on Museum Wharf, retaining the iconic Hood Milk Bottle as a recognizable landmark on its boardwalk setting.
- 3
InterContinental Hotel Promenade
A sequence of plazas and walkways combining views of the historic bridges with rooftop bars and canalside dining.
Seaport Piers & Cultural Anchors
- 4
Institute of Contemporary Art (ICA)
100 Northern Ave
A signature glassy building that cantilevers over the water, featuring a broad flight of harbor-side steps and a waterfront plaza that function as a public 'outdoor room.'
- 5
Fan Pier Park
A completed public open space at the tip of Fan Pier — 600 feet of pavilions, a bocce court, and lawns facing directly at the downtown skyline. Best sunset in the Seaport.
- 6
Commonwealth Pier
Historically the World Trade Center, now revitalized with a public Harbor Plaza and expanded Harborwalk segment — repositioned as a prime destination for public events and waterfront access.
- 7
Leader Bank Pavilion
290 Northern Ave
A major seasonal outdoor amphitheater hosting concerts from May through October against the backdrop of the harbor lights.
The Working Port
- 8
Flynn Cruiseport Boston
1 Black Falcon Ave
The primary hub for cruise ships arriving between April and November. Surrounding Harborwalk segments provide excellent vantage points for watching the massive vessels maneuver.
- 9
Harpoon Brewery & Beer Hall
306 Northern Ave
A modern brewery operating within a historic industrial zone, offering tours, tastings, and seasonal festivals along the Reserved Channel.
- 10