East Boston is a neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts, originally created by connecting several islands using landfill and then annexed by Boston in 1836. It is separated from the city proper by Boston Harbor and bordered by Winthrop, Revere and the Chelsea Creek. In recent years, East Boston has become home to a wave of young professionals seeking residence in newly renovated condos along Jeffries Point, Maverick Square and the Eagle Hill waterfront. The neighborhood is a prime location in terms of access to downtown Boston via the MBTA Blue Line.
President John F. Kennedy addressed the people of New Ross, Ireland, in June 1963, with these words: “When my great grandfather left here to become a cooper in East Boston, he carried nothing with him except two things: a strong religious faith and a strong desire for liberty. I am glad to say that all of his great grandchildren have valued that inheritance.”
The Kennedy family lived on Meridian Street in a small home near the Meridian Street branch of the Boston Public Library. The family later moved to a larger home on Monmouth Street. In 1954, JFK famously paraded through East Boston with his wife, Jackie, in anticipation for his presidential campaign, to secure votes from the neighborhood. In a famous photograph, Kennedy is shown walking down Chelsea Street heading towards Maverick Square, waving to the crowd in front of Santarpio’s Pizza.