Home of Rebecca Lee Crumpler
Rebecca Lee Crumpler (1831–1895), the first African American woman doctor, treated freedmen post-Civil War and wrote A Book of Medical Discourses.
Puffers Building
Built in 1899, this Queen Anne-style building housed sweatshops employing immigrant workers, producing cigars on Beacon Hill for Boston’s growing market.
West End Library
The West End Library, built in 1968, serves a diverse community, preserving local history and honoring Fanny Goldstein’s legacy as a pioneering librarian.
St. Joseph’s Church
Built in 1834 by Alexander Parris, this elegant church was saved from urban renewal in the 1950s and became a key part of the West End’s Roman Catholic community.
Boston Synagogue
The Boston Synagogue, built in 1971, unites West End congregations lost to urban renewal, serving the area’s Jewish community with spiritual and cultural support.
The West End Museum
The West End Museum, dedicated in 2003, preserves Boston’s West End history and culture through engaging exhibits and community programs.
St. Leonard’s Church
St. Leonard’s Church, built in 1873 by Italian immigrants, was restored in 1988, with women leading a million-dollar fundraising effort honored in its Peace Garden.
St. Stephen’s Church
Completed in 1804, this Charles Bulfinch church reflects North End history, including Rose Kennedy’s baptism and restoration led by local women in 1965.
Edith DeAngelis
Edith “Edie” DeAngelis, an East Boston native and activist, championed local history and led efforts to complete the East Boston Women’s Trail.
Eleanor Prentiss Creesy and Mary Ann Brown Patten
Mary Patten and Eleanor Creesy, skilled navigators, broke records and defied norms—Patten commanded a clipper ship, and Creesy raced Flying Cloud to victory.
Raquel Eidelman Cohen
Raquel Eidelman Cohen, a psychiatrist and Harvard Med alum, pioneered disaster survivor care and championed opportunities for women and minorities.
Armeda Gibbs, Isabel Hyams, and Sarah Hyams
In East Boston, abolitionist and Civil War nurse Mary Gibbs served as a missionary, while the Hyams siblings supported local social services and fresh air camps.
Massachusetts Normal Art School Site
The Massachusetts Normal Art School, a precursor to MassArt, operated here (1873–1886), offering free tuition to train teachers, with 80% of students being women.
Boston Marathon, Tortoise and Hare Sculpture
Nancy Schön’s The Hare and the Tortoise celebrates Boston Marathon history near its finish line, honoring female pioneers like Roberta Gibb and Joan Benoit Samuelson.
Emerson College Buildings
Emerson College, founded here in 1880, educated Elma Lewis, a community activist who brought arts to Roxbury and inspired Boston’s Black Nativity tradition.
Statues by Theo Ruggles Kitson
Among the statues on the Commonwealth Avenue Mall is the group honoring Mayor Patrick Collins, created by Theo Ruggles Kitson (1871-1932) and her husband, Henry Hudson Kitson.
Home of Marjorie Johnson
Marjorie Johnson (1915–2011), a trailblazer in funeral services, led J.B. Johnson Funeral Home, earning accolades for her dedication to community and faith.
Home of Amanda Houston
Amanda Houston (1926–1995), a Roxbury activist, founded programs for social change, directed ABCD’s New Careers Program, and taught in Black Studies programs.
Home of Frances Slanger
Frances Slanger (1913–1944), a nurse and WWII hero, was the first U.S. nurse killed in the European Theater, praised for her heartfelt tribute to GIs.
Young Men’s Hebrew Association (YMHA) and Lina Frank Hecht
Founded in 1882, the YMHA moved to Roxbury, evolving into the Hecht House, a community hub. Sold in 1970, it now serves as the Lena Park Housing Development.