Remnants of the Government Center Project with burning debris (WEM Archives)
Join us for the first official walking tour of the Friends of Titus Sparrow Walking Group—a special walk-and-museum experience exploring one of Boston’s most significant and devastating chapters in urban history.
This walk focuses on Boston’s ill-fated urban renewal plan that began in 1958 and led to the destruction of the vibrant West End neighborhood. Over 12,000 residents were displaced, more than 800 buildings were demolished, and 54 acres were erased from the city’s landscape.
We’ll visit the West End Museum—an emotional and powerful exhibition that brings this history to life—and enjoy a private neighborhood tour led by Bob Potenza, Cultural Preservation Manager. Together, we’ll explore what was lost, what remains, and the lasting impact of the West End’s story.
Here are the details and what to expect:
$10 entry fee to the museum (cash or card)
Start Time & Location:
Meet at 10:00 AM at the Tennis Court at Titus Sparrow Park, or
Meet the group at 11:00 AM at the West End Museum, 150 Staniford Street
Total distance: Approximately 2 miles
Options: Walk the full trip or take the T back
End time: Around 12:30 PM
This thoughtful and engaging walk is ideal for anyone interested in Boston history, preservation, and community storytelling.
Meet Your Guide: Irwin Levy
Irwin Levy is a committed Board Member of the Friends of Titus Sparrow Park, serving as our neighborhood liaison and leading history and walking tours that bring the South End’s stories to life. A resident of the St. Botolph section of Back Bay and East Hampton, LI, Irwin is passionate about local history and community engagement. In Boston, he organizes walking events for the Neighborhood Association of Back Bay, the Garden Club of Back Bay, and Temple Israel of Boston, and he recently joined the Board of Beacon Hill Seminars, a Boston-based adult education organization.
In East Hampton, Irwin serves as President of the East Hampton Trails Preservation Society, sits on the Town of East Hampton’s Nature Preserve Committee, and shares his love of history as Producer and Co-Host of Our Hamptons Podcast (ourhamptonspodcast.com).
