The Noble Warrender

A trip to the JFK presidential library should be fit into any itinerary you have for Boston. If you take the T leaving south out of the city, the stop closest has a bus shuttle right to the front entrance. No excuses. The John Fitzgerald Kennedy Presidential Library was opened in 1979, by then President Jimmy Carter, to honor the life and accomplishments of our 35th President. It appropriately sits right next to the water with a view of Boston. Although you could spend an entire afternoon wandering through the library, I'd say three hours is sufficient to have a really good experience.  The American Flag hangs in the pavilion of the library. "In 1989 the John F Kennedy Library Foundation created the Profile in Courage Award to honor the president's memory by recognizing acts of political courage by contemporary elected officials."  Recent recipients of the award: 2013 - Gabrielle Giffords for Gun Safety 2014 - George H.W. Bush for U.S. Economy...

The Boston Public Library was established as the first large free library in the mid-1840s at a relatively small building (a schoolhouse) in Boston. But, impressively, it had outgrown itself before opening. Right away plans were made to move the collection to the current, massive, and amazing location in the 1890s, and it's kept growing to the twenty-six branch system it is today. The design is that of a palace surrounding a courtyard. It's one of those places where you think you've seen it all, but then you walk through a doorway to another wing or another study room. The library seems endless. This statue adorns the front steps of the main entrance. It is titled "Art" and was created by Bela Pratt (1867-1917).  Bates Hall is the perfect place to do research or just grab a book and read. The lamps, the busts, the ceiling and dome at the end. It's inspiring. Two lion sculptures greet visitors who pass between them on the staircase. Th...

The New England Holocaust Memorial was dedicated in 1995 and stands quietly just past Quincy Market. I'd been in that area a dozen times and didn't see this down the street, so when I looked up places not to miss in Boston and the memorial was listed, I added this important stop. I would suggest visiting the website to read more about the memorial, but in short, it was built in remembrance of local Boston Holocaust survivors and of World War II itself. The memorial is rightfully placed along the Freedom Trail of Boston. As you approach the six pillars, you will see this: "To remember their suffering is to recognize the danger and evil that are possible whenever one group persecutes another. As you walk this Freedom Trail, pause here to reflect on the consequences of a world in which there is no freedom—a world in which basic human rights are not protected. And know that wherever prejudice, discrimination, and victimization are tolerated, evil like the H...