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Brighton is a residential neighborhood in the western part of Boston, bordered by Allston, Newton, Brookline and the Charles River. It was an independent town until it was annexed by Boston in 1874, and in the 19th century it was famous for its huge cattle market and stockyards, which supplied meat to the growing city.
Today Brighton is a lively mix of students, young professionals and long-time families, with Brighton Center and Oak Square as its main streets. The neighborhood is home to part of the Boston College campus, to St. John's Seminary with its Romanesque buildings, and to quiet Chandler Pond. Boston Landing, by the Massachusetts Turnpike, holds the Warrior Ice Arena, where the Boston Bruins practice.
The Chestnut Hill Reservoir, with its loop path and the Metropolitan Waterworks Museum, is the neighborhood's best green space, and Cleveland Circle has cafes and restaurants. Green Line trolleys connect Brighton to downtown Boston.
A historic 19th-century reservoir, now a state park, ringed by a 1.5-mile gravel path with views of Boston College towers and Victorian waterworks buildings. It is a favorite spot for runners, walkers and birdwatchers. Go early in the morning or at sunset; parking is limited on nearby streets.
A museum in the 1887 Chestnut Hill high service pumping station, a grand Romanesque Revival building that houses three giant steam-powered pumping engines. Exhibits explain how clean water reached Boston and its suburbs. Check opening days before going; the building is a sight in itself.
A small pond tucked among the hills of western Brighton near Lake Street, surrounded by a short loop path, trees and a quiet open meadow. Local volunteers care for it, and it is a favorite spot for birdwatching, dog walking and a peaceful sit by the water. Bring binoculars in spring.
The Catholic seminary of the Archdiocese of Boston, founded in 1884, with stone Romanesque Revival buildings and a chapel set on a wooded hill on Lake Street. The grounds give a sense of Brighton's past as a quiet country town. Visitors should be respectful, as it is an active school.
The practice facility of the Boston Bruins at Boston Landing, next to the New Balance headquarters. Some Bruins practices are open to the public, and the rink hosts public skating sessions and local games. Check the schedule online; the commuter rail stops right outside.
The historic commercial heart of Brighton around Washington Street and Market Street, with pubs, bakeries, cafes and small shops in old brick buildings. It is a good place to see the neighborhood's everyday life away from the tourist trail. Buses link it to the Green Line and Boston Landing.
A busy junction at the edge of Brighton and Brookline, where the Green Line C branch ends and the B and D branches pass close by, beside the Chestnut Hill Reservoir. It has pubs, pizza places, cafes and casual restaurants. Start a reservoir walk here, then return for a meal.
A small historic cemetery on Commonwealth Avenue, established in the mid-1800s when Brighton was still an independent town, with old gravestones and mature trees. It holds the graves of many of the town's early families. A quiet stop for those interested in local history; please be respectful.
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