Old Corner Bookstore
3.5(13)google
Historic BuildingLiteratureHistorywalkingPhoto Spot
Overview
The Old Corner Bookstore stands proudly as a historic red-brick landmark built originally in 1718, making it the absolute oldest commercial building still standing in downtown Boston. Situated along the historic Freedom Trail, this building became the legendary epicenter of American literature in the mid-nineteenth century as the home of Ticknor and Fields publishing. It served as a vital intellectual gathering sanctuary where literary giants like Ralph Waldo Emerson, Nathaniel Hawthorne, and Charles Dickens routinely debated.
Practical Info
Suggested DurationAbout 15-20 minutes
Best TimeThe best time for a snapshot is a weekday morning. Built in 1718, this is Boston's oldest historic commercial brick building and was America's 19th-century literary hub for publishing classics like 'The Scarlet Letter'; morning light captures its exterior architecture beautifully.
Getting ThereSituated right downtown at the corner of Washington St and School St along the Freedom Trail, take the MBTA Subway Orange or Red Line to Downtown Crossing Station, or Blue Line to State Station, followed by an easy 2-minute walk straight to the building.
Travel Tips
- Major tourist trap alert: The historic property is currently leased as an active Chipotle Mexican Grill. There are zero books and zero library gift shops inside. Do not visit expecting an antique bookstore experience.
- This busy intersection is a zero-tolerance tow-away and fine zone. Passenger cars cannot double-park or idle. Park inside the Government Center Garage and approach the building strictly on foot.
Photo Tips
Photo Spots
- Despite the corporate interior, the red brick facade remains a Freedom Trail milestone. The optimal free photo angle is standing on the diagonal sidewalk pavement at the corner of Washington and School Streets.
Reviews
Positive
- One of Boston's oldest surviving commercial brick buildings, once a cultural haven for literary giants like Emerson, Thoreau, and Dickens, with vast history value.
Heads up
- The interior has been fully leased to a modern fast-food chain (Chipotle), preserving zero historic relics inside, which feels incredibly commercialized and disappointing.