Boston Firsts

Boston has played an innovative and central role in American history for over 300 years. It has made significant advances in everything from science and engineering to culture and society.

1621 – First Thanksgiving Feast
1632 – First Windmill: Copp’s Hill
1634 – First public park: Boston Common
1635 – First public school: Boston Latin, still in operation
1636 – First college: Harvard University
1653 – First public library
1704 – First newspaper: Boston News-Letter
1714 – First American restaurant: Union Oyster House, still in operation
1765 – First chocolate factory: Baker Chocolate Factory in Dorchester
1780 – First State Constitution
1784 – First pub: The Bell in Hand bar
1797 – First commissioned Navy warship: The USS Constitution
1837 – First city police department
1837 – First Electric telegraph invented by Samuel Morse
1837 – First city police department
1846 – First sewing machine
1876 – First telephone: Alexander Graham Bell
1897 – First subway: Metro Boston Transportation Authority, the “T”, completed on schedule and on budget
1897 – First U.S. Marathon: Boston Marathon
1924 – First mutual fund
1928 – First computer: MIT
1947 – First microwave oven: Percy Spencer
2004 – Largest social media network conceived: Facebook, Mark Zuckerberg
2006 – First to offer free Wi-Fi at its convention centers: The BCEC and the Hynes
2008 – First Mobile Dexterous Social Robot: Nexi, MIT
2011 – First full face transplant in the U.S.
2011 – First bionic lower leg system
2011 – Largest convention center HD LED media tower

ANNE HUTCHINSON

ARCHEOLOGY

BACK BAY

BACK BAY FENS

BEACON HILL

BOSTON COMMON

BOSTON LATIN SCHOOL

BOSTON MASSACRE

CHARLES RIVER

CHARLESTOWN

COPP’S HILL BURYING GROUND

FANEUIL HALL

GRANARY BURYING GROUND

GREEN DRAGON TAVERN

JOHN HARVARD

JOHN WINTHROP

KING’S CHAPEL BURYING GROUND

MARY DYER

OLD NORTH CHURCH

OLD SOUTH MEETING HOUSE

PAUL REVERE HOUSE

THE WASHINGTON ELM

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