The West End is a small Boston neighborhood north of Beacon Hill. The population expanded when the city’s waterfront and North End neighborhoods experienced overcrowding in the 18th and 19th centuries. The West End was highly sought after by wealthy families since it was, at the time, separated by a small bay. 

Today, it’s easy to notice the unique architecture scattered around the West End. Designed by Charles Bulfinch, the West End is home to the distinctively classic Federal-style buildings, which attracted many families who spread out from the heart of Boston.

By 1810, the West End became home to people from all walks of life: the wealthy, middle-class families, merchants, business people, and many different races and ethnicities. Today, it’s a mix of commercial and residential areas, although much of the residential area has been rebuilt due to the city’s urban renewal project. 

The West End occupies the northwest portion of the Shawmut Peninsula, the first bit of land that early settlers founded. Its new highrises overlook small bays, mill ponds, and the Charles River Dam Bridge — which are unfortunately also home to unwanted pests like ticks, mosquitos, rodents, and more.