IWalked Boston’s Best Of – Charles Bulfinch

It is nearly impossible to walk around Boston without noticing the impression famed architect Charles Bulfinch left on this city. Charles is often considered the first native-born American to practice architecture as a profession. He graduated with his Masters degree from Harvard in 1784 before moving to Europe for the next three years. While in Europe he largely studied the architectural styles of individuals such as his idol Sir Christopher Wren who designed St. Paul’s Cathedral in London.

Upon returning to America in 1787 he began practicing architecture. Although architecture was not a recognized profession at the time Bulfinch began to apply many of the principles learned which studying overseas.

Unfortunately many of Charles’ earliest designs have been destroyed, however, one of his most significant work, the Massachusetts State House still stands proudly on Beacon Street. His commission for completion of the State House was a paltry $1,400. Low commissions and building investment failures such as in Boston’s South End led him to have financial troubles at one point for which he even spent a month in debtor’s prison

In the end Charles did persevere, and unlike some artists, was both well respected and admired in his time. In fact, President James Monroe held him in such esteem that in 1818 he hired Charles as the chief architect for the designing of our U.S. Capitol in Washington D.C. For designing our nation’s capitol he received a more sizeable commission of $2,500.

To find some of Charles Bulfinch’s work around Boston you may visit:

 

There is even a pub which formerly bared his name prior to undertaking a more tourist-friendly one.

 

Website: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Bulfinch

Address: 24 Beacon Street, Boston, MA. (Site of Massachusetts State House–Bulfinch’s most famous work in Boston)

Cost: Free.

IWalked Audio Tours To See Bulfinch’s Work: Boston’s Beacon Hill, Boston’s North Downtown, Boston’s Top 10 Attractions, Boston’s Crimes-Haunts, Boston’s West End and Boston’s North End. (Purchase the MP3 tour here. iPhone application tour is available here. Please note, all Boston tours are now available as in-app purchases upon download of our FREE Boston Lite application, which includes a free 1 hour tour of a portion of Downtown.)

 

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