Origin of The Hub (Boston)

Boston is often referred to as "The Hub," which is short for "The Hub of the Solar System" and later "The Hub of the Universe."  The Hub is a  physical place?the Massachusetts State House Building.  Oliver Wendell Holmes coined the original phrase in 1858.  Holmes wrote a series of articles in the Atlantic Monthly called The Autocrat of the Breakfast-Table.  In Volume 1, Issue 6, he wrote:  "[The] Boston State-House is the hub of the solar system.  You couldn't pry that out of a Boston man, if you had the tire of all creation straightened out for a crowbar."  The reference boastfully implied that Boston was the center of everything intellectual at the time.



Greetings From The Hub

This view shows the Old North Church, State House, a waterfront park, the Public Library courtyard, the Public Garden, King's Chapel, Trinity Church, and the Bunker Hill Monument.



Scenes Around the Historic Old Hub

Inside the wheel, this view shows Faneuil Hall, Old State House, State House, Public Library, Public Garden swan-boat, South Station, Public Garden flowers, Park Street Church, King's Chapel, Old North Church, and Old South Meeting House.  Please note the gold dome of the State House in the center or "hub" of the wheel!

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