Upcoming Events

Discover the Grandeur of the Ayer Mansion - SOLD OUT
Tuesday, May 22nd

The Ayer Mansion, 395 Commonwealth Avenue | 5:30pm

Built between 1899 and 1902 for businessman and art collector Frederick Ayer, the Ayer Mansion is the country’s only surviving residence created by famed American artist and designer, Louis Comfort Tiffany.

Join the Boston Preservation Alliance for a tour of this National Historic Landmark, led by the Ayer Mansion’s Preservation Advisor, Jeanne Pelletier.  Guests will view Tiffany-designed stone and glass mosaics, graceful metalwork, Favrile glass, custom furniture, intricate plaster work, elaborate stained glass windows, and unexpected architectural flourishes that all work together to create a masterpiece and exemplify Tiffany’s astounding versatility. A wine and cheese reception will follow the tour.

This event is sold out. To be put on the waiting list, please email Christine Piontek or call 617.367.2458.

Social Wednesday! with Common Boston
Wednesday, June 13th

Scholars, 25 School Street | 5:30pm

The Boston Preservation Alliance and Common Boston team up for Social Wednesday!, a gathering of young professionals who share an appreciation for the built environment of Boston, including historic preservation, architecture, sustainability, real estate, and urban planning. 

The Alliance’s collaboration with Common Boston highlights the shared objectives of our organizations to celebrate architecture and design in our neighborhoods.  Join us to hear Andrew Grace, of the Boston Redevelopment Authority, speak about the exciting developments happening in the Financial District, one of the “common points” of this year’s Common Boston festival.

Entrance is free. Enjoy a cash bar, tasty bites and plenty of networking. Please share this with friends, colleagues or anyone who would like to be a part of our network, and don't forget to RSVP. We look forward to seeing you there!

For more information or questions, please email Christine Piontek or call 617-367-2458.

The Lyman Estate: Making the Old House New Again
Wednesday, June 27th

The Lyman Estate, 185 Lyman Street, Waltham | 6pm

The National Historic Landmark Lyman Estate, also known as "The Vale," is one of three great country estates in Waltham and has recently been updated with twenty-first-century energy enhancements. Built in 1793, enlarged in 1882-3 and remodeled in 1917, The Vale preserves the legacy of four generations of the Lyman family, including gardens and greenhouses that are among the country's oldest and most significant landscape resources.

Join the Boston Preservation Alliance and Historic New England for this exclusive event for Historic New England Young Friends and Boston Preservation Alliance Young Professional Members. The evening will start with a brief talk highlighting the history of the house and family, with an overview of the weatherization solutions that make this old house new again. A tour of the mansion will follow and we'll cap the evening off with cocktails on the veranda.

To learn more about Young Professional Membership in the Boston Preservation Alliance and to join, click here or email Christine Piontek.

Space is limited for this event. To reserve your space, kindly reply to Events@HistoricNewEngland.org or call Nicole Carelli at 617-994-5934.

Explore Peddocks Island with Christopher Klein, author of Discovering the Boston Harbor Islands
Sunday, July 1st

Peddocks Island, Boston Harbor | 12:30pm

Author Christopher Klein will take participants on a walking tour of the newly re-opened Peddocks Island, where they will tour Fort Andrews and the surrounding area to learn about the island's vast history and natural resources.

Peddocks Island—one of Boston Harbor’s largest—has been the backdrop for Revolutionary War action and is home to the earliest known skeletons in New England. More recently, Peddocks has been home to Portuguese lobstermen, Italian P.O.Ws, bootleggers, gamblers, and vacationing summer residents. Graced with rocky beaches and sandy shoals, Peddocks Island features several pristine natural landscapes. The island can also take on a moody feeling, which may have been Hollywood’s inspiration for using it as the setting for many scenes in the blockbuster movie Shutter Island.

Time & Ferry Details: The walking tour starts at 12:30 p.m. on Peddocks Island, leaving from the boat dock. To arrive in time for the walking tour, participants must catch the 11:00 a.m. ferry from Boston to Georges Island, then either take the 11:35 a.m. ferry from Georges to  Peddocks (arriving at about noon), or take the 12:00 p.m. ferry from Boston from Georges to Peddocks, arriving at about 12:30 p.m. When the second ferry arrives, the walking tour will begin.

Pre-Registration: Pre-registration will be capped at 30 tour participants. Ferry tickets can also be bought the day of the event, but since it will be a busy holiday weekend, the ferries might be sold out. If the tour should be cancelled due to inclement weather, participants will be able to use their ferry tickets on another day during the 2012 season. To pre-register, please click here.

Price: The tour itself is free—but you need to buy a ferry ticket to get yourself there!  Buy a ferry ticket in advance: $15

SPECIAL OFFER! Purchase a ferry ticket + a copy of Discovering the Boston Harbor Islands: A Guide to the City’s Hidden Shores, by Christopher Klein: $27 (savings of $5)

Information: For ferries departing from Hingham, or for more information about the walking tour, contact Shelby Larsson at shelby@unionparkpress.com.

This event is co-hosted by the Boston Preservation Alliance and the Boston Harbor Island Alliance.