Black Heritage Trail

Today, we went to the Downtown Crossing to visit forteen scenery spots, in terms of Robert Gould Shaw and 54th Regiment Memorial, George Middleton House, The Phillips School, John J. Smith House, Charles Street Meeting House, Lewis and Harriet Hayden House, John Coburn House, Smith Court Residences, Abiel Smith School and the African Meeting House.

My favorite spot is the Phillips School. The Phillips School educated only white male children, and as result of its location, generally catered to the wealthiest families in Boston. In contrast to the Phillips School, which was the public school for African American children from 1835 to 1855. The Phillips School was considered one of the best school in the city. And this school became one of the first integrated schools in Boston.

In this trip, every students have to do a presentation for one spot, and I did the presentation for Abiel Smith School, which is located at 46 Joy street., was constructed between 1834 and 1835. It was built by the city of Boston to House the African school and was one of the earliest building designed by architect Richard Upjohn. In 1855, Boston was the only place in the commonwealth that still miantained segregated education. African American children started attending other public school, including the Phillips school, and the Abiel Smith school was closed that same year. The Abiel Smith school is now a National Hostoric Landmark.