Shawmut Peninsula

The peninsula, originally a mere 789 acres (3.19 km2) in area,[1] more than doubled in size due to land reclamation efforts that were a feature of the history of Boston throughout the 19th century.

Like much of the Massachusetts landscape, the peninsula was shaped by glacial erosion and moraine deposits left by retreating glaciers at the end of the last ice age.

[3] Reclamation projects began in 1820 and continued intermittently until 1900 and created the Boston neighborhoods of the South End, Back Bay, and Fenway-Kenmore.

The Back Bay Fens, a freshwater urban wild in the latter area, is a remnant of the salt marshes that once surrounded Shawmut Peninsula.

Although this project eliminated the wetland ecosystem that existed there at the time and would be impossible under modern environmental regulations, it was considered a great boon to the community for two reasons.

This diagram shows the original dimension of the Shawmut Peninsula. The gray areas marked with the words "New Boston" are all land reclaimed during the 19th century.
Map of Shawmut Peninsula from 1775 showing tactical positions from the perspective of the British Army