Roughly bounded by Broadway, Shawmut, Chestnut, and Shurtleff Streets,[2] the district was almost entirely built in the aftermath of the Great Chelsea Fire of 1908, and is a monument to the civic planning that took place at the time.

The historic district radiates away from this junction and the adjacent City Hall to include civic commercial and residential buildings.

[3] The square is home to the Chelsea Public Library and a satellite facility of Bunker Hill Community College,[4] located in the former post office.

On April 12, 1908, the Great Chelsea Fire of 1908 destroyed the city's commercial and civic heart, as well as 3,000 structures in a 500-acre (200 ha) area.

In the wake of this disaster, the state assumed control of the city, and set in motion a modern (for the period) urban planning process to rebuild the fire-ravaged area.