WELCOME TO HISTORIC CHARLESTOWN
WHO WE ARE
The Charlestown Preservation Society is a 501c3 not for profit organization founded in 1967 to stop the destruction of the town’s most historic buildings. Today, our mission is to preserve Charlestown’s historic character by protecting our historic architecture and landscape, advocating for preservation, guiding responsible development and educating people about the unique character of our community.
Last year, the Charlestown Preservation Society achieved a variety of successes!
Here’s an update on our activities:
- Three projects in Charlestown have been recommended to receive a combined total of $1,095,000 in grant funding from the Community Preservation Act!
- The petition for a new Union Street Architectural Conservation District was accepted for study!
- Years of advocacy for the protection of our historic neighborhood resources is paying off—PLAN: Charlestown workshops are ongoing. Please join the BPDA’s mailing list for information on future workshops and surveys that will help us plan the future of Charlestown.
- CPS’s Historic Neighborhood House Tour was a huge success! Click here to read all about it!
LATEST NEWS
STAY CONNECTED WITH US
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EPA-funded Air Quality Study Seeks Community Input
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New Landmark: Apollos Field House
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BOOK TALK: Welcome to Heroic: Concrete Architecture and the New Boston
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Help Us Protect Charlestown’s History
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Sustain our future with preservation
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“How to Research Your Historic House” workshop
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Charlestown Womens Voting Records
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From weeding to leading
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The Walker House, 36 Belmont Street
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A Virtual Book Discussion with authors Stephen Kendrick and Paul Kendrick
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Dress up your desk with a fresh view of Charlestown each month in 2024
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The Boston Tea Party’s 250th Anniversary and the Importance of the Charlestown Patriots
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Boston Public Radio
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Peace Park Progress – Piecemeal but Promising
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Charlestown Industrial Architectural Conservation District
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1-2 Thompson Square Update
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Help Us Oppose PLAN: Charlestown!
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Gala 2023
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Winthrop St and O’Reilly Family
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Abolitionists in Charlestown
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Help Us Keep Commercial Space!
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CPS Annual Meeting Presentation
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CPS Annual Meeting – New Date!!
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May Day House Walking Tour and Children’s Scavenger Hunt
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How We Can Protect Historic Charlestown
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Union Street Architectural Conservation District
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Community Preservation Act Grants
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CPS DPIR Comments on One Mystic
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Phipps Street Burying Ground Historical Tour – Sunday!
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Get Joe Bagley’s Boston Book
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Historic House Marker Research Workshop
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CPS 50/50 Raffle!! And the Winner is…
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Design Review Committee Letter on Bunker Hill Mall Redevelopment
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Preservation Planning and Tools
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CPS, DRC Letters to BPDA on Bunker Hill Housing Redevelopment
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Historical Significance of 8 Lawrence Street
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Grasshopper Cafe Demolition
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2019-20 Annual Report
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Historic House Marker Program
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Edwards School Update
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Edwards Middle School Needs Our Help!
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Learn more about PLAN: Charlestown!
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CPS Annual Report 2018-2019
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Memorial Hall granted $500k from Boston’s CPA Funds!
WHAT WE'RE DOING
WHAT WE'VE DONE
ACCESS HISTORIC RESOURCES
WHAT WE PROVIDE
The Charlestown Preservation Society’s Resource Information System (CPS-RIS) allows you to search our database for information on historic properties and areas in Charlestown.
Users of the database should keep in mind that it does not include information on all historic properties and areas in Charlestown, nor does it reflect all the information on file on historic properties and areas. Information will be actively added as time and funds become available.
Building inventory map.
CPS maintains information and research on Historic Buildings in Charlestown. Search our map to find a building and view information that we have found.
History and Architecture of Charlestown.
Within one square mile, Charlestown buildings display perhaps the broadest range of architectural styles in Boston. This book describes architectural styles of Charlestown.
Historic Marker Inventory.
CPS installs bronze markers on structures whose history and build date have been researched and verified. Over 220 markers have been installed to date. Search our map to find the information on the markers installed.
MHC 1987 Survey of Charlestown.
In 1987 the Massachusetts Historical Commission surveyed and researched the history on over 1,000 Charlestown buildings. Thanks to Rob Dinsmore the survey has been transcribed and is easier to read!
FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
HELP US
Help us add to our database and historic archives by researching a property. It is crucial to improve the inventory and documentation of our historic streets and proper, less than 20% have any historic documentation. Why does this matter? The smartest start to building renovation work is to review the proposed changes in the context of the neighborhood and the historic importance of the property. CPS’s Design Review committee lacks immediate access to this information which affects the ability to protect the properties and manage appeals before the zoning board. When these buildings are targets for demolition the situation is even more imperiled and time-sensitive. Please help us in researching buildings in Charlestown starting with your own.
EXPLORE CHARLESTOWN
SHOWCASE
This 1.5-mile route winds through Boston’s oldest neighborhood, through charming squares and streets, past historic houses and monuments. Read about Charlestown’s history and people get a peek through photographs of interiors and architectural details.