The Hidden Geography of Boston

Boston is a city shaped by water. Its harbor, rivers, wetlands, and coastline influenced where people settled, how neighborhoods developed, and how the city connected to the rest of the world. At the same time, Boston did not simply adapt to its natural geography. Over time, the city changed that geography through landfill, engineering, transportation systems, and coastal development. This map tour will explore a few places where that relationship is visible. From Boston Harbor to Back Bay, the Charles River, the Muddy River, Seaport, and Logan Airport, each stop shows how land and water have shaped the city that people move through today. By looking at Boston through geography, the city becomes more than a collection of streets and buildings. It became a landscape forged by nature and reshaped by humans.