What to See & Do in Boston - Boston 2009 - page 176

Missing This Would Be a Crime Tips

A bailiff at the adjacent Suffolk County Courthouse tipped me off to the
wonders of the John Adams Courthouse, one of the most beautiful build-
ings in Boston. Constructed between 1886 and 1894 and expanded in 1910,
the courthouse recalls an era when public buildings were more like cathe-
drals. It is the suitably impressive home of the Supreme Judicial Court, or
SJC, the highest court in the Massachusetts system and the oldest (1692)
appellate court in the Western Hemisphere. The French Second Empire
facade of the courthouse conceals an almost unbelievably elaborate interior
dripping with frescoes, moldings, paintings, and sculptures, all surrounding
the soaring central space, the Great Hall, which sits beneath a richly deco-
rated vaulted ceiling. The galleries on either side of the lowest level hold
exhibits relating to history and the courts; The Case of Sacco and Vanzetti:
Justice on Trial will be on display during your visit.
Early in the 21st century, the courthouse underwent a complete restoration
that transformed it into one of the city's most interesting destinations. The
public is welcome to look around or to attend a court session if one is going
on. The building is open Monday through Friday from 9am to 5pm, and you
and your bags must be inspected before entering. The entrance is at 1 Pem-
berton Square, hidden in plain sight behind the curving Center Plaza complex
on Cambridge Street, across from City Hall Plaza and the Government Center
T stop. Head to the second floor and ask for a brochure from the helpful staff
of the Public Information Office ( & 617/557-1114; www.mass.gov/courts/
jaceducation), or arrange in advance to take a tour with Discovering Justice
( & 617/557-1031; [e-mail]).

individuals and groups by appointment only Tuesday through Thursday from 9am to
4pm throughout the year (reserve 2 weeks in advance).
The courthouse is on Fan Pier, off Old Northern Avenue across the Fort Point
Channel from the Coast Guard building at 408 Atlantic Ave. You can walk from
downtown or take the Silver Line bus from South Station. To enter the heavily
guarded courthouse, adults must show two forms of ID (one of which must have a
photo), and everyone must temporarily surrender his or her cellphone. You don't have
to take a tour to enter—local office workers often visit the second-floor cafeteria,
which has decent food and a breathtaking view.
FOR PEDAL PUSHERS A group bicycle tour with Urban AdvenTours ( & 800/
979-3370 [tickets] or 617/233-7595 [info]; www.urbanadventours.com) covers more
in 2 1 ⁄ 2 to 3 hours than you could ever see on foot. The diverse offerings include an
“insider's” overview as well as tours that focus on a particular neighborhood, art and
architecture, and photography. You can also request a customized special-interest
excursion. Prices begin at $50 per person and include bicycle and helmet rental. You
get a break on the price if you supply your own bike or if you opt for the self-guided
option, but I can't recommend that for out-of-towners—the supervision of a guide
who's experienced in Boston's terrifying traffic is well worth the money.