The Story Behind a Historic Boston Hotel - The Harborside Inn

Indulge your senses in a reasonably-priced, historic Boston property. Located in the heart of historic downtown Boston, the Harborside Inn is perfect for those who appreciate 19th century architecture, a rich history, or just something out of the ordinary.

You'll be staying in a renovated mercantile building, built in 1858 of locally-quarried Massachusetts granite. Originally, the building consisted of a number of merchant owned independent bays. The building was originally surrounded by water when ship merchants delivered their goods to the busy port of Boston.

Before becoming a hotel in 1997, the building was used by the Boston Redevelopment Authority (BRA) for office space. In the 1950's the space was home to the Lenox Company, a distributor of flavored syrups including Margo root beer.

19th Century Details, 21st Century Comfort

Every guest room has architectural details that constantly remind you that you're in a historic building. At first, you'll notice the exposed granite and brick walls and the extra-high ceilings, and oversized windows.

The historical details are combined with the most comfortable furnishings, allowing you to enjoy the 19th century details without sacrificing an ounce of 21st century comfort.

The Harborside Inn's building was designed by Gridley James Fox Bryant (1816-1899), a famous 19th century architect and builder whose projects included Boston's Old City Hall, one of the additions to the Boston State House, and Rowes Wharf. Bryant apparently had an affinity, also, for designing places to lock people up. He designed the striking Suffolk County jail, an extension to a jail in nearby Charlestown, an almshouse on Boston Harbor's Deer Island, and a facility for "juvenile and female offenders" in New Hampshire.

Bryant used granite from his father's Quincy, Massachusetts quarry to build the mercantile building at 185 State Street. The elder Bryant was involved in the building of the well-known Bunker Hill Monument in Charlestown in 1826. Frustrated by the length of time it took to move granite from Quincy to Charlestown, Bryant developed the country's first commercial railroad, thereby ushering in a new era of transportation for our country.

More on the architectural legacy of the Harborside Inn Building.