Public Garden

park, Boston, Massachusetts, United States

Also known as: Boston Public Garden

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Last updated

July 13, 2026

Quick Summary

The Public Garden is a park located in Boston, Massachusetts, United States. It was established in the 1830s on land that was once part of the Back Bay. The park features a beautifully planted area with an artificial pond, famous for its swan boats that operate during the summer.

The Public Garden is part of the Emerald Necklace, a system of parks designed by Frederick Law Olmsted. This park system connects various green spaces throughout Boston, including Boston Common and Franklin Park. The Public Garden itself is a significant example of 19th-century landscape design and remains a popular destination for residents and visitors alike.

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Boston
Postcolonial expansion
…was laid out as the Public Garden. That became a splendidly planted area with an artificial pond that is still traversed by swan-shaped excursion boats in the summer.
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…was laid out as the Public Garden. That became a splendidly planted area with an artificial pond that is still traversed by swan-shaped excursion boats in the summer.
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Thomas Ball
…statue of George Washington (Public Garden, Boston) and the Lincoln “Emancipation” group (Washington, D.C.). He published his autobiography, My Threescore Years and Ten, in 1891.
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…statue of George Washington (Public Garden, Boston) and the Lincoln “Emancipation” group (Washington, D.C.). He published his autobiography, My Threescore Years and Ten, in 1891.
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