68-94 South Market Street
61-77 Clinton Street
19-41 Commercial Street

Elyse C.

Welcome to the Financial District's trifecta of South Market Street, Clinton Street, and Commercial Street. 

This page explores the evolution of the three streets located in the heart of Boston's Financial District in the North End. The proximity to the wharfs and expanding railway systems created the perfect location for mercantile activity to prosper. The Norman B. Leventhal Map & Education Center at Boston Public Library is utilized with their Atlascope tool. This tool allows for close up observation of maps digitized from 1883-1938. Maps are used as an artifact and jumping off point to investigate the landowners, the street structure, the constructions of buildings, and ultimately what is sacrificed for the Central Artery. 

What did the parcels look like in 1888?

map detail of 68-84 S. Market St

68-94 

South Market St. 

Map detail of 61-77 Clinton St.

61-77 

clinton St.

Map detail of 19-41 Commercial St.

19-41

 Commercial St. 

Explore the evolution of the parcel through maps below:

What are the narratives in the trifecta? 

What did shopping look like before the internet?

Why does Clinton St. have so many fires?

How is the city a living organism?

Bibliography

Bromley, George Washington. Atlas of the City of Boston. Philadelphia: G.W. Bromley & Co., 1883. Boston Public Library, via Atlascope. 


Bromley, George Washington. Atlas of the City of Boston. Philadelphia: G.W. Bromley & Co., 1888. Boston Public Library, via Atlascope. 


Bromley, George Washington. Atlas of the City of Boston. Philadelphia: G.W. Bromley & Co., 1895. Boston Public Library, via Atlascope. 


Bromley, George Washington. Atlas of the City of Boston. Philadelphia: G.W. Bromley & Co., 1902. Boston Public Library, via Atlascope. 


Bromley, George Washington. Atlas of the City of Boston. Philadelphia: G.W. Bromley & Co., 1928. Boston Public Library, via Atlascope. 


Bromley, George Washington. Atlas of the City of Boston. Philadelphia: G.W. Bromley & Co., 1938. Boston Public Library, via Atlascope. 


"Firemen battling fire on Clinton Street, Boston." Photograph. April 20, 1971. Digital Commonwealth, https://ark.digitalcommonwealth.org/ark:/50959/zs25xm84v 


Jones, Leslie. "Push cart rush on Clinton Street in the Market District, 3PM." Photograph. 1930. Digital Commonwealth, https://ark.digitalcommonwealth.org/ark:/50959/5h73rb88b 


"New auxiliary girders Commercial St. near Prince St." Photograph. 1909. Digital Commonwealth, https://www.digitalcommonwealth.org/search/commonwealth-oai:h989sj41q