The modern name for the hill was given by early English colonists who, while sailing along the coastline, noticed the bluish hue of the exposed granite faces when viewed from a distance (due to Riebeckite).

[4][5] The north and west sides of Great Blue Hill drain into the Neponset River, and thence into Boston Harbor.

Rotch conducted ground-breaking studies of the atmosphere at Blue Hill for many years, and meteorological data is still gathered at the site.

From the Eliot Tower at the summit, the city of Boston and many of the surrounding hills of the Milton and Canton area are visible.

The NOAA Weather Radio station serving Greater Boston and adjacent coastal waters, KHB35, transmits atop the hill as well.