CELEBRATE BOSTON FREE PHOTOS

Pi Alley, Washington Street

Pi Alley is located on Washington Street near the Old State House. The alley travels from Washington Street to Court Square. Pi Alley hosted a theater in the 1970s.  The old theater marquee is still used as a sign now.

The alley was opposite the offices of several Boston newspapers (Newspaper Row), and was the home of the old Bell In Hand Tavern. The tavern was visited after work by many printers. Loose type was known as "pi," and it is said to have jingled inadvertently out of pockets of printers while frequenting the tavern, giving the alley its name.