Union Wharf

Union Wharf is a historic waterfront complex featuring granite buildings constructed between 1830 and 1850 along Commercial Street in Boston's North End. The structures form a cohesive row of industrial and commercial architecture that once served the city's maritime trade.

This location started as a wooden wharf in the late 1700s before being rebuilt with granite structures during the 1830s and 1840s. The transformation marked Boston's rise as a major trading hub during the industrial era.

The wharf reflects Boston's role as a major port city, and visitors can see how the granite buildings were designed for the commerce and shipping activities that defined this neighborhood. The structures still convey the practical approach people took to waterfront work during that era.

The wharf is easily reached by walking along Commercial Street in the North End, with nearby public transit stops making access simple. The site is situated directly on the waterfront, so you can walk around the buildings and along the water's edge.

The granite blocks were cut and fitted using 19th-century craftsmanship techniques that required skill and precision without modern power tools. Visitors often overlook how much physical labor and expertise went into constructing these solid walls.

Location: Massachusetts

GPS coordinates: 42.36556,-71.05083

Latest update: December 14, 2025 18:06