Historic Benefit Street

A historic stretch often referred to as “the Mile of History,” this collection of residences and institutions embodies one of the nation’s most impressive concentrations of Colonial and early‑19th‑century architecture. Originally laid out in the mid‑18th century—as its name suggests, developed “for the common benefit of all”—it evolved into a parade of elegant wood‑frame homes, civic buildings, churches, libraries, and museums. Today it remains a vibrant urban neighborhood where each façade tells a layered story of preservation, adaptation, and living history.