Boston By Foot, Inc. (BBF) was established in 1976, the year of America's bicentennial, to promote public awareness of Boston's rich architectural heritage. During the past twenty-two years, its dedicated corps of over 200 trained guides has explored the city with more than 200,000 Boston visitors and residents through guided walks and slide lectures. Boston By Foot was the recipient of the American Institute of Architects' 1996 Institute Honors Award in recognition of distinguished service to the profession in the public realm.
Boston By Foot guides are knowledgeable volunteers who have successfully completed a rigorous six-week training program of lectures and field trips led by distinguished professionals. As trainees they are expected to attend all sessions, submit four written assignments, pass a final examination, and present a practice tour. Upon the successful completion of the program, each graduate receives a "Silver Foot" pin at a commencement ceremony in the Old North Church. BBF prides itself on the quality and spirit of its guides - men and women of widely diverse backgrounds brought together by a common love of Boston's buildings and spaces.
From May through October Boston By Foot presents daily regularly scheduled tours highlighting the heart of the Freedom Trail, Beacon Hill,Victorian Back Bay, the South End, the North End and Boston Underground. These very popular ninety-minute walks proceed rain or shine and may be joined without advance reservations. The groups are small, and there is always time for questions.
BBF's "Tour of the Month" program features special neighborhoods, and a five-hour marathon tour on Labor Day offers the opportunity for more extensive urban study. BBF also organizes events for a wide range of special groups as well as for national and international conventions.
Educational programs for young people include Boston By Little Feet, a child's-eye view of the Freedom Trail's architecture; Johnny Tremain's Boston, a tour for middle school students; and the Boston Underground tour for students of all ages. Many tours are funded by the Boston Foundation for Architecture, to enrich the programs of hundreds of schools in the greater Boston area and beyond.
For colleges and universities, civic and cultural organizations, and senior citizen groups, BBF offers two 50-minute slide lectures. The Four Shapes of Boston traces the city's unique architectural and topographical history; The Reshaping of Boston tells the story of the city's contemporary architecture. Both programs are presented year round by experienced Boston By Slide guides.
Through these achievements and many others, Boston By Foot has paid homage to over three centuries of American architecture. In the words of Mildred Schmertz, former editor of the Architectural Record, "With imagination, energy and a marvelous sense of fun, Boston By Foot creates a public that believes great works of architecture ultimately belong to them."
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