Take a walk through Boston’s iconic Back Bay and discover the dramatic storey behind one of the city’s most elegant areas. Once a tidal marshland, Back Bay was transformed in the 19th century through an ambitious land reclamation project that stands as one of the greatest civil engineering feats of its time.

Learn how this carefully planned area emerged from the mud—shaped by precise grids, filled with grand Victorian homes, and brought to life by the people who lived and worked there. From the motivations behind filling the bay to the architectural and social legacy that remains today, this tour uncovers how Back Bay became a national model for urban planning and a symbol of Boston’s aspirations and identity.