Patriots Corner

 

 

 

What role does architecture play in a city’s identity? Why is a city like Boston so special? 

 

The cityscape – the skyline, the faces of the buildings, the architectural atmosphere – defines a city’s character. Historic buildings and new construction. Triple deckers and massive skyscrapers. Vernacular and spectacular architecture. Each contributes to the cityscape, which affirms the vision of the countless architects, builders, and construction workers who’ve created structures where we lead our lives. This urban landscape is what gives a city like Boston its uniqueness, its peculiarities, its je ne sais quoi.

Through the stunning work of renowned architectural photographer Peter Vanderwarker and travel photographer Matthew Dickey, visitors will contemplate the role both types of architecture play in a city like Boston. The vernacular and the spectacular combine to create a cityscape all our own.

Visit the online exhibit to see the photos, learn about the artists, and engage with our exhibit activities by designing your own building, trying your hand at categorizing different types of architecture, and discovering current Boston preservation projects. 

 

 

 

While it was originally constructed as an elegant single-family home, the Clough House has served many purposes over time: a single-family home, a tenement for many families, and a house museum. Now it serves a variety of purposes for Old North Church & Historic Site, including exhibit, gallery, office, and storage spaces.The Clough [rhymes with “fluff”] House witnessed all the changes in its surrounding neighborhood over the past 300 years while it too changed to meet the needs of the community. Today, it serves as a testament to the architectural prowess of Ebenezer Clough, the master brickmason of Old North Church, the indomitable spirit of immigrants working for a better life, and the countless individuals who valued its history and fought to save it from demolition. 

Through documents and records from the Old North Church archives as well as historical photographs and information gleaned from a 2013 archaeological dig behind the house, this exhibit considers how this one small plot of land represents the experiences and domestic lives of hundreds of people while also serving as a microcosm of Boston. The story of the Clough House is the story of the people who’ve called it home; it’s the story of the brick structure itself and its many phases, and it’s also the story of a changing community. This specific tiny building helps us piece together the story of America.

In the gallery, channel your inner Ebenezer Clough through hands-on creative activities, vote on hypothetical preservation projects, contribute to a chart on housing, and more! #StillStanding

 

 

The famous signal lanterns of April 18, 1775, displayed in the steeple of Old North Church, activated a network of riders who rallied their neighbors and fellow patriots to action and ignited the American Revolution. The bravery of those riders, who are largely uncelebrated today, demonstrates a defining pillar of the American spirit in times of trouble. This exhibition investigates what that caliber of teamwork and courage looks like in the 21^stcentury, particularly how collective action and courageous fellowship can promote active citizenship.

 

What does it look like when one sacrifices personal desires and recognition in pursuit of a common goal? How do we as local, national, and global citizens overcome ourselves for the greater good of our communities? What does it mean to work together synergistically to effect change? The artists featured in this exhibition answer these weighty questions in different ways as their photographs demonstrate bravery in its many facets: it’s an idea, it’s an action, it’s a feeling, and it’s a symbol.

Featured Artists: Todd Bradley, Matt Conti, Maggie Loh, Leah Ramuglia, Austin Soares, Ellen Shub, Steven White 

In the gallery, share your own story of bravery and join a larger conversation with our visitors about what teamwork looks like today.  #RallyPoint