Affectionately known as “Eastie” by locals, East Boston is home to around 45,000 residents. It once comprised five islands: Noddle’s, Hog’s, Governor’s, Bird, and Apple.
Development began on Noddle’s, which was separated by the Boston Harbor, and residents had to use paddle boats and ferries to visit it. In 1904, Massachusetts constructed the country’s first underwater streetcar tunnel, the MBTA Blue Line, to connect East Boston to the mainland. Now, you can take Route 1A to get across.
Because of its original separation from the mainland, the city set up the East Boston Immigration Station here. Immigrants of Irish, Russian, Jewish, and Italian descent — including President John F. Kennedy’s great-grandfather — settled in East Boston, which was nicknamed Boston’s “Ellis Island”.
Today, East Boston is home to Logan International Airport and several historical and natural sights, like Piers Park, Suffolk Downs, Belle Isle Marsh Reservation, and Eagle Hill Historic District. Unfortunately, common pests like mosquitoes tend to congregate on land masses like this, and rats and mice are all too familiar.