The West Church was founded in 1737. For the next 150 years it was one of the most socially active congregations in Boston. When the demographics of a changing city scattered its congregation to the Back Bay and the suburbs, the 1806 building was deeded to the City of Boston in 1894 to serve as the West End Library. In 1962, when a new library was constructed, the congregations of the First Methodist Church and Copley Religious Society merged and acquired the building. The new congregation took the name of its new home, now known as Old West Church. Historically, churches were meeting houses that served their community in many capacities, not only for Sunday services. Our congregation has continued and strengthened this tradition. The doors of Old West Church are open to all who serve others, welcoming many religious, educational, and performing-arts organizations throughout the year.

Once the location of cigar-making shops. Along with garment 'finishing', cigar-making was a major occupation for Jewish immigrants from Eastern Europe around 1900.

Dedicated in 1806, this is the oldest African-American church. Home of the First African Baptist Church, and later a center for the Abolitionist Movement, William Lloyd Garrison founded the New England Slavery Society here. In 1972, it was acquired by the Museum of Afro-American History. The hall now serves as the museum's centerpiece and a National Historic Site. The meeting house is one of the sites on the Black Heritage Trail. Admission is free. Function space for up to 200 is available.

The Museum of African American History, Black Heritage Trail® is a guided walking tour that explores the the history of Boston's 19th century African American community in Beacon Hill. There are fifteen points of interest on the 1.6 mile Trail. Most notable are the African Meeting House, the oldest standing black church in the country; the Abiel Smith School, teh first public school built solely for the purposes of educating black children; the Augustus Saint-Gauden's memorial to Robert Gould Shaw; and the African American 54th regiment. The tour begins at the Shaw Memorial, which is located on the Boston Common. After Labor Day, those wishing to walk the Black Heritage Trail® can schedule a tour with the National Park Service. Tip: If the kids are worn out from all the walking, take a break at nearby Myrtle Street Playground.

Museum President Jim Campano calls the West End “the greatest neighborhood this side of heaven.” The museum catalogues the West End’s history from the 1880s to the 1950s, ending with a failed urban renewal project displacing thousands of poor immigrants. The museum features photographs and paintings of the old neighborhood, a video about the area’s development and informational plaques. Campano said the museum serves as a place where the remaining West Enders could gather and reminisce about a piece of Boston’s urban history. The city and developers profited off the ruined lives of displaces residents, he said.

The "Tip O'Neill Building" stands on the site formerly occupied by the Hotel Madison. The Madison in its day was one of the finest hotels in Boston. The hotel, adjacent to Boston's North Station, was opened in August 1930 and was named the Manger, for Julius Manger, head of the New York hotel. The name was changed to the Madison in 1958. The Madison closed its doors in 1976 and was destroyed by implosion on Sunday, May 1, 1986 to make way for construction of the "Tip" O'Neil Federal Building. This is where you go when you need to get a foreign visa. However, if you need to renew your passport, you should do it by mail. This building houses the Passport Agency, Social Security Office, Peace Corps, and a bunch of other Governmental Offices.