Charles Bulfinch was a visionary architect and civic leader whose imprint on Boston is everywhere. He enlarged Faneuil Hall, designed the Massachusetts State House, and shaped the city not only through architecture but also through his service as Head Selectman and Police Chief. Bold in his vision, Bulfinch imagined a more elegant Boston, inspired by the great cities of Europe. Some of his projects soared, while others, like the ambitious Tontine Crescent, fell victim to financial struggles.

Boston By Foot’s Boston By Bulfinch tour explores this legacy, inviting visitors to see the city through Bulfinch’s eyes. We are especially delighted that on several occasions members of the Bulfinch family themselves have joined us to walk in their ancestor’s footsteps.

Shirley Bulfinch, who has organized family trips for nearly a decade, shared this about her experience:

“My husband Richard Bulfinch was proud of his direct lineage to Charles Bulfinch, Architect, & longtime Head Selectman (Mayor) of the City of Boston who had a positive impact in this beautiful city during its formative years…We felt so strongly about sharing our Boston connection with our family members to instill pride & sense of roots, that….since about 2017 [we’ve] hosted several group trips to ensure each family member experienced our family’s Boston roots in person.”

This summer, Shirley wrote to Boston By Foot that their most recent visit reached “great-grandchildren now” — a reminder that history continues to live and breathe across generations.

Bulfinch descendant on BBF's Boston By Bulfinch tour

Bulfinch descendants on BBF's Boston By Bulfinch tour

The Boston By Bulfinch tour was developed and is led by longtime Boston By Foot guide Terri Evans. An architecture enthusiast and member of her town’s planning board, Terri brings a passion for how the built environment shapes society. Her favorite stop is Tontine Crescent, Bulfinch’s bold but incomplete dream.

Franklin Place

Franklin Place & Tontine Crescent

You can still glimpse evidence of this lost crescent today as you walk along Franklin Street. Notice how the Street widens gracefully. Arch Street once traveled under the arch in the central pavilion of the Tontine Crescent. Take a moment to pause at the steel Nancy, Passage of Time memorial sculpture (given to the city of Boston in 1978 by the Drucker family in memory of their daughter. Though unrelated to Bulfinch’s crescent, it stands where Bulfinch once placed gardens and fountains before his brownstones and offers a place on the Passage of Time. The Tontine Crescent was demolished in 1872, but still, the memory of Bulfinch’s vision lingers.

Like all Boston By Foot tours, Boston By Bulfinch offers more than dates and buildings. It connects us—to the city, to each other, and to the generations before and after us.