Born in Boston – 6 great things that happened here first.

If you love going to public beaches, schools, botanical gardens or almost anywhere by subway, Boston says “you’re welcome.”  

Besides being one of the original 13 colonies and a major player in shaping U.S. history, Boston led the way on many of our most valued public institutions, creating models later adopted across the U.S. 

First in public education

Boston established the country’s first public school in 1635 under the auspices of Reverend John Cotton. He believed young men of all social classes and means should be educated in the classics.

Boston Latin School, first held in the home of schoolmaster Philemon Pormort, was initially supported by donations. This emphasis on education is still alive in the city today.

Women were admitted beginning in the 1800s. Its first female graduate, Helen Magill White, was also the first American woman to earn a doctorate.

Boston Latin has produced five signers of the U.S. Declaration of Independence, four Harvard presidents, four Massachusetts governors, and notable alumni like Benjamin Franklin. New York and Washington D.C. later established schools based on the model.

Boston Latin School is still in operation today. Its motto, Sumus Primi (“we are first”), remains apt. The school is a beautiful 30-minute walk from Newbury Guest House along the famous Emerald Necklace.

First in public gardens

And speaking of the Emerald Necklace… It’s part of Boston Public Gardens, more than 1,000 acres of parks that are always open and always free.

The idea was new in 1870, when Boston was crowded, dirty, and noisy. City officials, concerned about public well-being, hired landscape architect Frederic Law Olmstead to design a public park system—the nation’s first.

The Emerald Necklace itself represents only half of Boston’s park acreage. It is the only remaining linear park designed by Olmstead, the first landscape architect in America.

Its botanical gardens, enchanting waterways, meadows, and tree collections offer a vital connection to nature in the heart of the city. Cities across the nation later followed this model, giving millions access to beautiful public spaces.

The nation’s first—and arguably most beautiful—public garden is just a 10-minute walk from Newbury Guest House. 

First in public beaches

On July 12, 1896, the Massachusetts Metropolitan Park opened a three-mile stretch of coastline to all citizens, creating Revere Beach—the first public beach in the nation.

An estimated 45,000 visitors arrived on opening day. A historic heat wave that same year brought even more crowds seeking relief.

When a rail link to the beach was built in 1875, Revere quickly became a major recreation area. Weekends drew as many as a million people who came for the waves as well as restaurants, ballrooms, skating rinks, and bowling alleys.

Three famous roller coasters—The Cyclone, Derby Racer, and The Lightning—once thrilled visitors. The Revere Beach Reservation Historic District is now on the National Register of Historic Places.

Revere Beach is just 20 minutes by “T” from Newbury Guest Hous

First in subways

Boston revolutionized urban transportation by establishing the first subway system in the United States. It changed city life worldwide.

In the late 19th century, Boston’s population was booming and main streets were jammed with stalled trolleys. Citizens joked they could travel faster by walking across the roofs of streetcars.

In 1891, the governor and mayor appointed a Transit Commission. Their solution became the first practical subway line, built on Tremont Street between 1895 and 1897.

Today, the subway—known locally as the “T”—is part of the MBTA, one of the largest and most accessible systems in the country. Since 2021, it has been the largest American transit agency powered entirely by renewable electricity. Nearly one million people use it daily.

The Orange Line is only a 15-minute walk from Newbury Guest House and connects Back Bay to nearly every corner of the city.

First in…donuts?

Well, maybe not first, but definitely hole and glaze above the rest.

The first Dunkin’ Donuts opened in Quincy in 1948 and is still operating today. Originally called The Open Kettle, it received its famous name two years later and eventually became the largest donut chain in the world.

Dunkin’ now serves more than 60 cups of coffee per second and 2.9 billion donuts annually.

Craving a chocolate frosted or Boston Kreme? There’s a Dunkin’ just four minutes on foot from Newbury Guest House.

First in Old-World charm and modern comfort

We like to think that’s Newbury Guest House.

The only boutique hotel on Boston’s famed Newbury Street, it sits in the heart of the Back Bay’s historic brownstone district. It’s the perfect home base for exploring the city’s history, architecture, dining, nightlife, shopping, universities, and legendary Fenway Park.

The three former single-family Victorian residences that make up the hotel were built in the Queen Anne and Rustic styles. Joined in the 1990s, they became our small, stylish 35-room boutique hotel.

Alongside modern amenities, you’ll find original architectural details and a welcoming staff ready to make your stay delightful.