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    A narrow, three-story house with gray horizontal siding and white trim, located between taller brick buildings in an urban neighborhood. The house has three windows, each with flower boxes containing plants and flowers. A small sign indicates it is 'The Skinny House (Side House)'. A parked silver car is in front, and a streetlamp is nearby. The house is part of a cityscape with brick structures and urban infrastructure.
    Jurel H.

    Came across the this land mark, while on the freedom trail tour. It's supposedly the narrowest house in the city. Our tour guide told us there was two stories on how this house came to be. The first is, two brothers inherited land from their deceased father. While one brother was away serving in the military, the other built a large home, leaving the soldier only a shred of property that he felt certain was too tiny to build on. When the soldier returned, he found his inheritance depleted and built the narrow house to spite his brother by blocking the sunlight and ruining his view. The second story is, the unnamed builder erected it to shut off air and light from the home of a hostile neighbor (also nameless) with whom he had a dispute. ... Believed to have been built after 1874. Whichever story you want to believe, we can all agree that this house was made out of spite. Last thing worth mentioning, for a house that you can not use the front door to bring in furniture. Because there is no front door, you have to bring it through the side window. A quick Google search I came across some more information regarding this home. Wikipedia says, The house spans 10.4 feet (3.16 m) at Hull Street, its widest point. There is no entrance here; the house may only be entered via a small alley. The house tapers to 9.25 feet (2.82 m) at the back. On the interior, the outer walls are as little as 8.4 feet (2.56 m) apart and none are more than 9.2 feet (2.80 m) apart. The home's narrowest interior point is 6.2 feet (1.89 m) across, close enough to allow an adult to touch opposing walls. There are only five doors in the house, despite it having four levels. The second floor holds the living room and the bathroom, one of the few spaces separated by a door. You can purchase the house to live in for a little over a million dollars. Wow...

    The Skinny House in the North End
    Bruce K.

    With a view of the famous North Church ("two if by land"), the Skinny House is the narrowest house in Boston. At maximum, the front of the house is 10.4 feet wide but there's no front door. Instead, you have to go down the alley. There's a gate and it was unlocked when we stopped by. According to legend - and there are at least two legends - two brothers inherited land from their father. While one went off to fight in the Civil War, the other built the house next door. Returning from war, the first brother found that this was all that was left of his inherited land and so built this house to spite his brother. Maybe true, maybe not. But it's a good story. If you're enjoying a walk along the Freedom Trail, don't miss a quick visit to the Skinny House. It's across from the big North End burial ground.

    A man stands with a child in a stroller on a city street in front of a row of multi-story buildings, including brick and wood facades. The street has patches of snow and ice, and the sky is overcast. The scene captures urban residential architecture and parking in a city environment.
    Nico Samneil S.

    No parking space. Really tight spaces house. Looks like a family is living in there. Nothing much. I bet this place cost a lot when sold

    The photo depicts two closely situated narrow buildings in an urban environment. The left building is a red brick structure with a black metal fire escape on its facade. The right building is a light gray, three-story house with window flower boxes filled with greenery. The sky is clear and blue, and the scene captures the architectural contrast between the buildings.
    Stacy A.

    This famous narrow house is located at 44 Hull Street (right across the street from Copp's Hill Burying Ground). This four story home boasts the "Most Narrow House in Boston" at only 10 feet wide. It's sort of hard to wrap your mind around the fact that someone could live there. While there are differing stories on how this house came to be, this home is called the "Spite House" because both stories have it being built out of spite. One story is that two brothers inherited land from their deceased father. While one brother was away serving in the military, the other built a large home, leaving only a shred of property that he felt certain was too tiny to build on. When the soldier returned, he found his inheritance depleted and built the narrow house to spite his brother by blocking the sunlight and ruining his view. The other story is that two neighbors were quarreling and one built the narrow house so that it shut off the air and light from the home. No matter which story you believe, it's still quite a sight to see.

    Curt C.

    Being someone who nerds out on real estate, I loved this! This is also called "The Spite House" It's supposed to be the skinniest house in the world! Here's the skinny on the house- Two brothers went off to fight in the Civil War, maybe on differing sides. When one soldier came back from war after the other, he found that his brother had built a big home on the land that they were supposed to split. So to spite his developer brother, he built this skinny house to block access and the view of the other brother's home. Now it's a narrow house that barely fits on the land it was built on, obtrusively blocking the other home. The home overlooks the Freedom Trail, and is a historic site! While I was visiting, it went up for sale! I don't think that you can go inside, unless you live there. It overlooks a historic cemetery. Check it out!

    Paul S.

    The Skinny House is one of those hidden little treasures of Boston, Ma A interesting little to see place and have your photo taken in front of it. The Skinny House also has a great story to it. With 2 Brothers during the American Civil War era. They had distaste for each other. When one brother tried to steal the other Brothers land inheritance while he was away in the military. The Skinny House was the Result of their squabble. You can read the full story on the internet by doing a Search on "Bostons Skinny House"

    "The Skinny House" as viewed from Copp's Burying Ground in Boston's North End. @RoadTrip_NewEngland on Instagram  (bit.ly/2qyTftg)

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    Now it's a narrow house that barely fits on the land it was built on, obtrusively blocking the other home.

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    John Hancock Tower - Looking over Charles (from inside)

    John Hancock Tower

    (22 reviews)

    Back Bay

    During our last stay in Boston, we had a room that had a direct view of the John Hancock tower…read more It was such a beautiful sight...especially at night...most of the offices were lit up and it made the whole building look almost magical. This towering skyscraper stands tall at 790 feet, making it the tallest building in New England. Construction on the John Hancock Tower began in 1968 and was completed in 1976. The tower is made up of reflective glass panels that give it a sleek and modern appearance The John Hancock Tower is located in the heart of Boston's Back Bay neighborhood, at 200 Clarendon Street. If you are lucky to go up to some of the high floors, you could enjoy great views of the city.

    I *SO* wish I was writing this review under different circumstances. There is now a deep pain…read moreassociated with this building... but this isn't the building's fault - thus no stars deducted. You see, I used to work at one of the companies within. I don't want to name it, so let's say I was somewhere between 50%-75% of the way up. To say it was a dream job is an understatement; I couldn't have dreamt it up if I tried. Well, my employment ended in less than six months. Not 100% my fault, not 100% theirs... even if you were to find the numbers, they probably wouldn't add up to 100 either - sometimes in life there is a sprinkle of rotten luck. I had a lot of pride not only in the company I worked for and in the work I did, but also for where (physically) I worked. Friends and colleagues would often ask me, and I would tell them I work right in the John Hancock Tower. Outwardly, I would [try to] be completely nonchalant about it, but inside I felt just a little hurt when the other person wasn't as wowed as I was walking into work every day. From inside, well, the view is incredible, of course. The one caveat is the nighttime view isn't what you would expect (nor what I accurately conveyed in the photos). I think it is partly due to the blue mirror coating on the glass - it reflects some of the now rather scarce blue light. As an architectural symbol, it is probably as uniquely Boston as Fenway. Something that is immediately recognizable. Yes, there are valid criticisms about its location right next to Trinity Church, and how it fits into the overall landscape. It is said, correctly, that beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and I for one, despite what anyone else says, think the building is wicked awesome. I also love how one can see it from very far away (I've seen it from Lynn and Weymouth!) There is also some fascinating history surrounding the building, including cases where the glass would fall out, and many windows were replaced with wooden panels. Or, how it was determined that under certain wind conditions, the building could fall - and reinforcements were added to the structure, as well as a stabilizer on one of the top floors. With all this, and especially the privilege of having worked inside it, there is not conceivable way I would award anything less than five stars.

    Faneuil Hall - 7/22/2024

    Faneuil Hall

    (149 reviews)

    Downtown

    Every time I think of Boston this is one of the first places that comes to mind. Whenever I visit I…read moremake a point to stop here. This is the place where I had my first Boston cream pie and I will never forget it. Feneuil Hall dates back to the 1700s and was created as a meeting Hall and marketplace, but later became a very important site for public speeches during the American revolution. You can still feel the history here in the spirit and the gorgeous architecture of the space. Every time I visit it feels so vibrant and alive. It's almost always packed with people and has a great energy. You can find amazing food here and I wasn't joking about my first ever Boston cream pie. I was born and raised on the west coast and it's just not something that we eat out there. Ever since my first bite, if Boston cream pie is an option anywhere, that is the choice I am making. It's so simple, but so delicious! Boston has so much to see and do. There is such a rich history here that it can be hard to choose just a few activities during a visit. I've been lucky enough to visit many times and do many things here and I would still put Feneuil Hall at the top of my list. Between the architecture, the history and the atmosphere, its's definitely a must-do and you could honestly probably move through this one quickly, but it's much better if you take your time, grab something to eat and just let yourself enjoy being part of the city for a little while.

    Great historic building in Boston. Faneuil Hall is a must visit if in town…read more Located inside a beautiful building with a great facade, Faneuil Hall is standing in the area since 1742 as a place of gathering for people like Samuel Adams and John Hancock to protest the rules and laws of the King pre-Revolution. It continued to be a place for community members to gather, discuss ideas, start protests, trying to make things better in the country. Nowadays, Faneuil Hall is a nice Visitor Center belonging to the National Park Services. It's a free museum dedicated to its interesting past, spread on 2 floors. Lots of great and interesting exhibits here. There are a few shops as well to get souvenirs. Downstairs, there are clean restrooms, water fountains to refill your bottle and benches where you can rest a tad. People meet in front for tours. They have street artists, I usually enjoy that type of the show, but here they were taking over and they were rude to tourists! It opens at 10 am, closes at 5 pm. Great for your own tour of Boston. Part of Freedom Trail. A place that's a great part of US history!

    The North End - View from my hotel in NORTH END of BOSTON

    The North End

    (133 reviews)

    North End

    North End aka Little Italy is my favorite Boston neighborhood…read more It's lively and welcoming with bakeries, pizza shops, and Italian restaurants lining the cobblestone streets Paul Revere's house is in North End as are several other historical landmarks. You can't help but feel like you're in a small village in Italy when in the North End.

    After spending a year nearby a few years ago, I feel like I've explored and experienced the North…read moreEnd pretty well. I've dined at a few dozen Italian restaurants, wandered through historic landmarks, and even spent quiet moments in the old cemeteries tucked between brick facades and wrought iron. Returning recently for a day of exploring with Mrs. K., I was eager to share some of that charm -- those narrow streets that smell like espresso and marinara, the echo of Paul Revere's midnight ride, and the layered stories etched into every corner. But what stood out this time, more than the cannoli or the cobblestones, was how difficult the neighborhood can be for folks with mobility challenges. The North End is a feast for the senses, but not always a friend to the feet. Sidewalks are uneven, often narrow, and sometimes disappear altogether. Curb cuts are inconsistent, and many storefronts (especially the older, family-run trattorias) have steps without railings or ramps. We found ourselves rerouting a few times, dodging delivery trucks and squeezing past sidewalk café setups that left little room for a walker or wheelchair. Even the Freedom Trail, which winds through the area, occasionally dips into terrain that feels more 18th-century than 21st-century accessible. That said, the spirit of the place remains magnetic. We managed fabulous espressos at a quiet spot on Salem Street. A few blocks away, we paused at Copp's Hill Burying Ground, where the view over the harbor still stirs something deep and reflective. But I couldn't help noticing how much of the North End's magic is locked behind physical barriers. How many stories, meals, and moments are harder to reach if you're not nimble on your feet. It's a neighborhood that deserves to be experienced by everyone, and I hope the city continues to find ways to make that possible. Because the North End isn't just Boston's Little Italy. It is a living museum, a community, and a reminder that history should be accessible, not just preserved. [Review 1117 of 2025 - 1262 in Massachusetts - 24670 overall]

    Skinny House - landmarks - Updated May 2026

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