Exeter Street and Lenox Hotel Historic Corner
Why is it significant?
You have reached the corner of Boylston Street and Exeter Street, anchored by the stately eleven-story Beaux-Arts brick-and-limestone facade of The Lenox Hotel.
Key Facts
| Place | Exeter Street and Lenox Hotel Historic Corner |
|---|---|
| Address | 61 Exeter St, Boston, MA 02116, United States |
| Geo Coordinates | 42.34880, -71.08080 |
| Part of Walk | Back Bay, Copley Square and Commonwealth Avenue Mall: Boston's Victorian Grandeur |
| Generated | Generated |
You have reached the corner of Boylston Street and Exeter Street, anchored by the stately eleven-story Beaux-Arts brick-and-limestone facade of The Lenox Hotel. Opened in 1900 by owner Lucius Boomer, who later managed New York's Waldorf Astoria, The Lenox was hailed at its opening as one of Boston's most opulent luxury hotels, featuring private marble bathrooms in every suite and state-of-the-art electric elevator cages.
High atop the roof of The Lenox glows Boston's most iconic vintage rooftop neon sign, erected in the 1920s. Spelling out the hotel's name in brilliant red and blue letters visible from miles away down Commonwealth Avenue and the Mass Pike, the sign has served as a welcoming beacon for generations of travelers entering the city.
Over its twelve decades of hospitality, The Lenox has hosted an astonishing roster of legendary guests, including legendary Italian operatic tenor Enrico Caruso, actress Judy Garland, and world-class jazz musicians. Because the hotel sits just steps from the official Boston Marathon finish line, it has served for decades as the unofficial headquarters for international marathon champions and Olympians. Looking across the intersection, notice the historic Exeter Street Theatre building, designed in 1885 by Richardson's studio as the First Spiritualist Temple, later converted into Boston's most beloved independent art-house movie cinema. The lively street scene hums with runners, diners, and theater-goers enjoying the sophisticated ambiance of western Back Bay.
Standing on this bustling corner where Victorian elegance meets modern urban hospitality, you sense the timeless warmth and character of Boston. Here, century-old hotels continue to welcome travelers with the same gracious refinement that defined the Gilded Age. The historic hotel corner continues to radiate the warmth and welcoming sophistication that have made Back Bay a cherished destination for travelers from around the world.
Follow Belvidere Street south onto the open modern plaza of the Prudential Center.