Winter in Boston is no joke. With lows bottoming out at around 19 degrees in January, and highs averaging in the high 30s to mid-40s from December through February, you’ll need to pack layers while visiting Boston in winter. Boston is at its most majestic (not to mention quietest and cheapest) during the most frigid months.
Fans of the white stuff will rejoice while sightseeing around Boston in the winter, especially if they arrive in January or February, when the average snowfall ranges from 12 to 14 inches. The fresh powder is optimal for sledding through Boston Common or snowshoeing at Gore Place. There are so many fun things to do in Boston in winter that you’ll almost forget that it’s cold.
Take a look at these incredible photos from Boston Public Library to see how severe the winter was in Boston in the 1920s and 1930s.
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| Horse pulling wagon slips in snow next to Common, 1920 |
Incredible Photos Show Severe Winter in Boston in the 1920s and ’30s
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| Blizzard rouses havoc with a working horse near South Station, breaking shaft and dumping his load of snow, 1920 |
Incredible Photos Show Severe Winter in Boston in the 1920s and ’30s
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| Christmas view, circa 1920 |
Incredible Photos Show Severe Winter in Boston in the 1920s and ’30s
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| Horse and wagon accident next to Common, 1920 |
Incredible Photos Show Severe Winter in Boston in the 1920s and ’30s
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| Horse falls on slippery street in Boston, 1920 |
Incredible Photos Show Severe Winter in Boston in the 1920s and ’30s
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| Horse pulling wagon slips in snow, circa 1920 |
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| Horse-drawn sleigh for hauling goods, market district, circa 1920 |
Incredible Photos Show Severe Winter in Boston in the 1920s and ’30s
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| Police officer helps woman through blinding snow during coldest blizzard to reach Boston, 1920 |
Incredible Photos Show Severe Winter in Boston in the 1920s and ’30s
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| Shoveling snow, circa 1920 |
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| Statue of garrison, Comm. Ave., covered with snow, 1922 |
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| Fire alarm box almost covered up by severe snowstorm, 1923 |
Incredible Photos Show Severe Winter in Boston in the 1920s and ’30s
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| Looking at the weather instruments on Common in snow, 1923 |
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| Skaters put up shoes in baseball backstop at Franklin Field, 1923 |
Incredible Photos Show Severe Winter in Boston in the 1920s and ’30s
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| Snow bound Mt. Vernon Street, 1923 |
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| Horse slips on Tremont St., 1925 |
Incredible Photos Show Severe Winter in Boston in the 1920s and ’30s
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| Hamilton statue, Commonwealth Ave. Mall covered with snow, 1928 |
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| Girls try snow shoes on Boston Common, circa 1930 |
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| Kids playing in Roxbury Park, 1930 |
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| Kids playing in woods, Roxbury, 1930 |
Incredible Photos Show Severe Winter in Boston in the 1920s and ’30s
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| Remarkable snowstorm, big blizzard as it appeared on Scollay square, circa 1930 |
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| Snowstorm in Boston, circa 1930 |
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| Snowstorm in Boston, corner of Tremont and Boylston, 1930 |
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| Team of horses plow snow on Tremont Street Mall, circa 1930 |
Incredible Photos Show Severe Winter in Boston in the 1920s and ’30s
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| Women use umbrellas to ward off snow, during snowstorm in downtown Boston, 1930 |
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| Crew shovels snow from Tremont St. near State House, 1933 |
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| Snowstorm, Joy Street, Beacon Hill, 1933 |
Incredible Photos Show Severe Winter in Boston in the 1920s and ’30s
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| Tremont St. snowstorm, 1933 |
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| Beacon St. snow scene from State House, 1934 |
Incredible Photos Show Severe Winter in Boston in the 1920s and ’30s
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| Snow bound autos on Boston streets, 1934. |
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| Snow bound autos on Boston streets, 1934 |
Incredible Photos Show Severe Winter in Boston in the 1920s and ’30s
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| Boys riding ice cakes in Dorchester Bay, 1935 |
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| Kids ride ice cakes in Dorchester Bay, 1935 |
Incredible Photos Show Severe Winter in Boston in the 1920s and ’30s
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| New type of plough for moving snow, 1935 |
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| Removing snow in Boston by hand and horse, 1935 |
Incredible Photos Show Severe Winter in Boston in the 1920s and ’30s
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| Pedestrians and autos, big snow storm in Boston, 1936 |
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| Waterfront, snow covered, 1938 |
Incredible Photos Show Severe Winter in Boston in the 1920s and ’30s
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| Atlantic Avenue elevated, circa 1939 |
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| Colored man digging out horse and cart, circa 1939 |
Incredible Photos Show Severe Winter in Boston in the 1920s and ’30s
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| Digging out auto, circa 1939 |
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| Dumping snow, possibly South End, circa 1939 |
Incredible Photos Show Severe Winter in Boston in the 1920s and ’30s
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| Horse-drawn sleigh in Boston neighborhood, 1939 |
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| Making snowmen, 1939 |
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| Men shoveling snow into trucks, 1939 |
Incredible Photos Show Severe Winter in Boston in the 1920s and ’30s
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| Men shoveling snow into trucks, 1939 |
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| Snow covered autos, circa 1939 |
Incredible Photos Show Severe Winter in Boston in the 1920s and ’30s
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| Snow scenes, 1939 |
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| Snowstorm scenes, circa 1939 |
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| Snowstorm scenes, circa 1939 |
Incredible Photos Show Severe Winter in Boston in the 1920s and ’30s
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| Snowstorm scenes, circa 1939 |
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| State House grounds in the snow, 1939 |
