February 1, 2025

2024 Christmas In Salem Part 5 – Salem Athenaeum (Salem, MA)

By New England Nomad

Date Of Visit: December 7, 2024

Location: 337 Essex St, Salem, MA

Website: Salem Athenaeum

The Salem Athenaeum has a rather storied history.

While it’s unofficial history can be dated back to 1760 when members of two institutions started combining the latest scientific works into a joint collection, it wasn’t until 1810 when they decided to merge together to form the Salem Athenaeum.

There was no permanent location for the athenaeum for many decades. Then, in 1850, at the bequest of Caroline Plummer, a philanthropist and founder of Plummer Professorship of Christian Morals, a brick building was constructed in the Italianate style at 132 Essex St. The Athenaeum stayed at this location for 50 years. Then, in 1905, the Athenaeum sold the building to the Essex Institute. It would later become what is now the Peabody Essex Museum.

With the proceeds from the sale of the building at 132 Essex St, the Salem Athenaeum was built at at its current location of 337 Essex St. Dedicated in 1907, the current red brick building was modeled after the Homewood Estate in Maryland which was built by Charles Carroll one of the signers (and longest living survivor) of the Declaration of Independence.

Over the years, many people of note have been members of the Salem Athenaeum. Nathaniel Hawthorne, mathematician Nathaniel Bowditch, former Supreme Court Justice Joseph Story, Impressionist painter Frank W. Benson and Charles Grafton Page, an early inventor of the electric motor, have all been members of the Athenaeum.

The name “Athenaeum” is derived from the Greek goddess of wisdom, “Athena.” And, according the tour guide, the translation for “Athenaeum” is loosely “private library.”

From time to time, the athenaeum will feature speakers, presenters and other people of note to speak. This book tree consists of books written by people who have spoken at the athenaeum.

Because of a certain famous theatrical release from last year, there were a few exhibits dedicated to The Wizard Of Oz and other related works.

The Athenaeum has many interesting pieces of decor.

This may look familiar to some. It is a drawing taken from the Chronicles of Narnia (The Last Battle). I got the feels when I saw that as it was one of my favorite books I read as a younger person. This is one of the treasures of going to a library like this. It can not only open doors of learning. It can also revive old dormant feelings.

The athenaeum also has a special vault where books, pamphlets and other publications with high appraisal values are kept. But, the small climate-controlled storage area can only hold a fraction of the highly prized documents.

While the library is open and free to everyone during their normal hours of operation, members get perks such as borrowing books or magazines without overdue fines, advanced notice and reduced fee or free admission to programs and events and other bonuses.

9 Comments   |  tags: , , , , , , , , , , | posted in books, Christmas In Salem, library, Massachusetts, New England, photographs, photography, photos, Salem, Salem Athenaeum, travel

January 29, 2025

2024 Christmas In Salem Part 4 – Captain Emery Johnson House (Salem, MA)

By New England Nomad

Date Of Visit: December 7, 2024

Location: 630 Essex St, Salem, MA

Parking: There are several parking lots and garages in the Salem area

Universally Accessible: No, many of the homes do not have ramps or universally accessible entry

After a short break from posting about the Christmas In Salem tours, I am resuming these posts.

The Christmas In Salem event reinforces how you can’t judge a book, or in this case house, by it’s cover or exterior. At first glance, the Captain Emery Johnson House looks like any garden variety historic home. Yet, as you will soon see, it’s interior is far from it.

Built in 1853, the Captain Emery S. Johnson house is an Italian Revival style residence. Decor of the Italian Revival style can be seen in the bay window frames and the scored corner boarding. Captain Johnson inherited the land for the house in 1845 when his father passed away.

After a successful career in maritime, Captain Johnson retied at the ripe old age of 22. Johnson’s travels included traveling to Brazil, Zanzibar and Madagascar. Shortly after his retirement, Johnson met Ann Elizabeth Creamer. They wed in June, 1850. After the death of both of Johnson’s brothers at sea, he became the sole heir of his father’s fortune. With his new found riches, he decided to have the house built.

The lighting fixtures at the home were very pretty and unique.

A piano player provided some comforting Christmas music.

Christmas decor and other types of decor were abundant in the home.

There were small Christmas trees and a rather big one! You may notice something different about the background of this photo. More on this later.

This dinner table is not any normal dinner table. This dinner table used to be a billiards table! That’s right. People used to play pool on this table. It appears to have been modified for

Getting back to the background in the photo of the tree decoration posted above, this may look like some decorative wallpaper or painted decor. But, it’s not.

This wall decor was done by stencil! Incredible, yet true.

Another odd part of this home was the dining area. Specifically this table.

At some point during the ownership of the home, a Dr Friedman owned the house. And, yes, were that table is was possibly where he did his “research.” Of course, it’s not the exact same table. But, it’s still a little creepy.

Outside the home there was more cool decor.

Don’t forget to visit my Facebook page to see more photos I don’t post in my blog. And you can also find me on Instagram.

7 Comments   |  tags: , , , , , , , , , , | posted in Christmas In Salem, holidays, Massachusetts, New England, photographs, photography, photos, Salem, travel

January 24, 2025

Christmas By Candlelight 2024 (Old Sturbridge Village, Sturbridge, MA)

By New England Nomad

Date Of Visit: Dec. 21, 2024

Location: Old Sturbridge Village, 29 Stallion Hill Road
Sturbridge, MA (1 hour southwest of Boston, MA)

Universally Accessible: Some of the areas are universally accessible. But, many of the houses do not have ramps or other universally accessible entryways. See below for more details from their website:

Old Sturbridge Village is an outdoor museum with unpaved roads that lead to houses, farms, shops, mills, and gardens typical of 19th-century rural New England. While more than half of the Village’s historic buildings have wheelchair-accessible entrances, interior access varies. The Village’s unpaved roads are generally firm and stable. Most roads are level, with steeper grades located near the Bullard Tavern, Glass Exhibit, and Herb Garden. Longer, more gradual grades are located near the Visitor Center and Freeman Farmhouse.

Summary: Old Sturbridge Village hosted their annual Christmas By Candlelight event last month. Historical actors discussed the many historical aspects of the holiday and many Christmas decorations were on display.

The spirit of Christmas was alive in Sturbridge, MA! An 1830s Christmas that is.

Every year, Sturbridge Village recreates Christmas during the olden days. Toys, treats and decorations were in abundance at the event.

The first thing that caught my eye was the Tree of Heroes.

Each star hanging from the tree included the name of a service member from the area who has died. It is a sobering reminder of the sacrifice of others and the loss people feel this time of the year and throughout the years.

At the village, one of the biggest decorations, literally and figuratively, were the nutcrackers.

Although nutcrackers were a part of the Christmas decor of the 1800s, they really became more common in the states after World War II. American soldiers stationed in West Germany after the war would send them home as gifts.

Nutcrackers are said to represent fear and strength. And, in some cultures, luck. Since their purpose is to crack open the shells of nuts, which requires a certain amount of force and strength, they are figures of strength and being fierce. In fact, they are so fierce, according to German folklore, they were believed to ward off evil spirits and protect homes because of their strength.

This employee at the village was working diligently on a nutcracker. The carved bodies of the nutcrackers are delivered to the village and the workers are responsible for painting and decorating them. She said she can paint and decorate one nutcracker in one evening (at least when people like me weren’t pestering her with questions). She told me the hardest part of decorating the nutcrackers is getting all the lines straight.

Of course, the homes, buildings and grounds were decorated for the season.

The interior of the homes were just as beautiful as the outside of them.

Toys, of course, are also a big part of the holiday. There were toys from the 1800s and modern day era at the event.

But, not all of the gifts children received were toys or dolls. Children in the 1800s would leave carrots and hay in their shoes to feed St Nick’s horse (or donkey) in the hopes he might leave gifts such as chocolates, candy, fruits, nuts, coins and other gifts in their shoes.

There were also musicians, magicians and other entertainers at the event.

Of course, what would the holidays be without food? The house where the Italian traditions were shown featured a Ceppo, a wooden pyramid structure designed to hold shelves full of different Christmas items. Some levels had gifts and food items while other levels had candles on them. Besides being a potential fire hazard, the Ceppo was meant to represent a flame and act as a substitute for the Yule log.

In the corner of the table you may have noticed a figure holding a stick.  La Befana, the “Christmas Witch”, is considered a good witch who rides around on her broomstick. She carries around a sack of gifts and candies for good children. The name  La Befana originates from the Greek word Epifania, the Italian name for the religious festival of the Epiphany.

The Italian Christmas Eve tradition of the Feast of the Seven Fishes was also discussed. But, thankfully, no fish was prepared or served at the event. In its place, cakes, cookies and other sweets were on display. And a chocolate layered cake was served. I did not partake. But, the consensus was it was “delicious.”

Just looking at all the photos makes me hungry! Believe it or not, even with all of the photos I have posted, I could have posted even more.

As an added bonus, there was a gingerbread house contest.

The “winning gingerbread house was “Best In Show” gingerbread house was this “Farm Creation.”

The rest of the gingerbread houses and other gingerbread structures are posted below, in no particular order.

11 Comments   |  tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , | posted in Christmas, Massachusetts, New England, Old Sturbridge Village, photographs, photography, photos, Sturbridge, Uncategorized

January 12, 2025

Frozen Fire Festival (Salem, MA)

By New England Nomad

Date Of Event: January 1, 2025

Location: Charlotte Forten Park, 289 Derby St, Salem, MA

Cost: Free

Parking: There are several parking lots and garages in the area (parking was free during my visit because of the holiday)

Universally Accessible: Yes

Dog Friendly: Yes

Website: Frozen Fire Festival

Summary: Performers performed death defying acrobatic and fiery acts in a free event open to the public

Just because the “big holidays” were over, it doesn’t mean the festivities were over in Salem, MA!

During the week after Christmas and New Year’s Day, Salem has been hosting a variety of daredevils, acrobats and entertainers.

As you will see in this post, it was difficult to select the most interesting and fun photos to post. The entertainers were so talented and the event had so much to offer!

The events for each day varied slightly. I went on New Year’s Day, the last day of the event. There wasn’t a big crowd, perhaps in part because it was the last day of the event. While the event was free, people could rent an igloo to keep warm and there were food and beverage stations as well as curling lanes and warming stations.

People had so much fun curling! I never knew people could have so much fun playing this modified version of curling. Or, how intense the competition could be!

There were also smore or marshmallow stations. People could make their own smores or just toast marshmallows!

There was also a swing if you wanted to take a break and just relax.

There were also ice sculptures at the event. Since it was a mild day, there was only one sculpture I could photograph.

Now, on to the main attractions of the event! There were 6 half hour performances each hour. Some of the performers performed several times. But, their performances changed somewhat each time they performed. Some of the photos were taken at various performances throughout the day. Of course, it being New England, it snowed and rain intermittently throughout the day before the event. But, the weather didn’t affect the show!

Jay Moran kicked off the event with some agile fire tricks.

Qatherine showed off her skills.

Celia kept the tension high with her high aerial performance!

Not only was Orissa flexible (she is considered the “most flexible woman in the world), she also is an archery expert…with her feet!

But, my favorite performance of the night was Irina Jang. Not only did she put on an amazing performance, she also gave some great photo opportinities!

The event wasn’t just fun for people! Freya, a 2 year old, mini doodle also had fun at the event!

10 Comments   |  tags: , , , , , , , , , , | posted in fire, Massachusetts, New England, performers, photographs, photography, photos, Salem, winter

December 31, 2024

A Year Of Photography 2024 (New England)

By New England Nomad

Locations: All over New England

As the year winds down, I wanted to share some of my favorite photos from 2024!

Because of my schedule and commitments, I don’t always get to post photos from all of my travels around this beautiful region. I also noticed sometimes I will edit only a few photos from one photo shoot before going onto editing photos from a different photo shoot. So, I haven’t fully edited all of the photos from several of my photo shoots. I will make completing one task before moving onto another task a resolution so this won’t happen going forward!

Another thing I do sometimes is I post my photos from some photo shoots on my Facebook or my Instagram profiles instead of WordPress. So, I thought this would be a good opportunity to share them on here!

Each year, I make goals or plans for my photography. One of my plans for this year was to spend Halloween in Salem, MA. I was able to get a hotel room and stayed the whole day there! It was something I have always wanted to do! There were so many incredible Halloween costumes and decorations!

One of my other plans for the year was to photograph more wildlife. While you can’t always make something like that happen since a lot of it does come down to luck or being in the right place at the right time, l do think you can prepare for the opportunities. I was fortunate to photograph these beautiful critters.

Too bad this lady was looking at her phone when this happened.

I took these photos of a snake in March, when the temperatures were still cold in the morning but warmer in the afternoon.

How did I get so close to a big garter snake like this? Well, essentially, this snake was sluggish due to the cold weather. Garter snakes hibernate (technically they experience a process called brumation which I’ll explain later) through the winter, usually from late October through March or early April. But, if we have some warmer days they may come out sooner. This little guy or lady “froze” in a process called brumation (as opposed to hibernation). In colder temperatures, you may see snakes like this one here seemingly “frozen” as if they were perhaps dead or in a state of dormancy much like a person staring at their phone.

Hibernation of cold-blooded animals like snakes is called brumation. While mammals technically hibernate, snakes, reptiles and some other cold blooded animals experience a process called brumation. The difference between hibernation and brumation is that during brumation snakes can wake up to drink, go to the bathroom, and bask in the sun. But, just like hibernation, they still spend most of their winter in a dormant state.

Have no fear, as the Audubon specialist working there told me they often “unfreeze” when the temperatures increase (much like what bees do when the temperatures dip) when it gets warmer.

I did check on him or her before I left and the snake was still there undisturbed.

I also photographed some sunrises, a sunset and a full moon!

Cliff Walk, Newport, RI

Hampton Beach, Hampton, NH

Independence Park, Beverly, MA

Revere Beach, Revere, MA

Webb Memorial Park, Weymouth, MA

Webb Memorial Park, Weymouth, MA

And, of course, I made several trips to my favorite lighthouse at Winter Island, Salem, MA!

Stanley Park in Westfield, MA, celebrated their 75th anniversary. To commemorate this anniversary, the park officials invited all of the people who were married there to come back for a reunion! This couple looks like they’ve barely aged!

Another exhibit I was able to photograph was the Flora In Flight art display at the New England Botanical Garden. Designed by Poetic Kinetics, Flora In Flight is meant to inspire audiences and connect them with the environment through visually striking experiences.

Recently, I made it out to the Christmas By Candlelight in Sturbridge, MA!

I also photographed some of the sand sculptures on the Yarmouth Sand Sculpture Trail.

So, I had a busy 2024! But, there is much more I want to see and show everyone in the upcoming year! I also plan on editing the remainder of the photos from the photo shoots above!

Thank you all for stopping by my posts!

I hope everyone has a happy, safe and successful 2025!

24 Comments   |  tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , | posted in beach, New England, Old Sturbridge Village, photographs, photography, photos, Salem, sand sculptures, travel

December 31, 2024

Winterlights (Stockbridge, MA)

By New England Nomad

Dates Of Event: Nov. 29, 2024 -Jan.4, 2025

Location: Naumkeag, 5 Prospect Hill Rd, Stockbridge, MA (2 hours west of Boston, MA)

Cost: $25 for adults, $12 for children

Universally Accessible” No, the trail includes stairs and some hilly inclines

Summary: Hundreds of thousands of lights lit up Naumkeag in Stockbridge, MA

Ranked one of the top 10 winter attractions in the country, Naumkeag’s Winterlights display lived up to its hype this year!

The estate, which boasts a home with a 44 rooms and 40 acres of land, kept visitors in awe with its grandeur.

Every time I photograph a low light event like this I wish I could take my tripod with me. It would be easier from a technical standpoint and the photos would look better. But, for good reasons, they are not usually allowed on the grounds. So, I did my best with my Canon 5D Mark IV with my 24 mm prime (1.4 aperture).

In the garden area, there was a “wish tree.” People could write their wishes for the upcoming year and hang them on a tree.

I wouldn’t mind extra pizza rolls either. And best wishes, Scott.

So many wishes…

There was also an igloo like structure in the garden. You may see some fog that was piped into the area. (to the left of the third photo)

Everything was lit up and very festive looking!

Along the trail there was a cute little greenhouse that was decorated for the holidays!

Along the main trail, there were a variety of lights and objects that were lit up!

This tree to the right of the photo reminded me of the trees un the Wizard Of Oz for some reason!

These very unique lights looked like insects.

There were also these brightly lit hut like structures you could walk through.

From a distance, the main attraction of the display, the trees along the path looked majestic all lit up!

But, they looked even better up close.

There were also places to sit by the fire and get a beverage or two.

There were also decorations and a piano player at the home at Naumkeag.

The case in the photo below has a special collection of nutcrackers.

It’s hard to believe yet another holiday has come and gone! But, don’t fret! If you’re in New England, you only have 3 or 4 more moths of bone chilling weather!

15 Comments   |  tags: , , , , , , , , , , | posted in Christmas, Massachusetts, New England, photographs, photography, photos

December 25, 2024

Christmas In Salem Part 3 – Grace Church (Salem, MA)

By New England Nomad

Date Of Visit: December 7, 2024

Location: 385 Essex St, Salem, MA

Website: Grace Church

Not all of the buildings in the Christmas In Salem tour are homes. This part of the tour took us to the Grace Church.

Grace Church has been at its current location since 1926. Previously, it was a wooden Gothic Revival building in 1869. The original church was demolished as it was deemed inadequate for the needs of the congregation. Philip Horton Smith and Edgar Walker, both architects of Salem, constructed the stone masonry late Gothic Revival structure that exists at the location today. Four of the stained glass windows in the church were transferred from the original 1856 structure, two of which are by Tiffany.

While the church was being built, Grace Church acquired the Burill House as a Parish House. The building has been remodeled and enlarged while adding a cloistered wing to the church.

Susan Gentile’s “Heavenly Light” art project adorns the walls of the church.

If you look closely at this stained glass window, you may see some historical figures (besides the obvious one).

In the second row of the stained glass window, there are images of Martin Luther King, Ghandi and Mother Teresa.

Grace Church is involved in many activities and causes such as the Abundant Life Garden which engages children in scripture and agriculture as well as many other causes.

5 Comments   |  tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , | posted in Christmas In Salem, church, New England, photographs, photography, photos, Salem, travel, Uncategorized

December 21, 2024

2024 Christmas In Salem Part 2 – The Thomas Whittredge House (Salem, MA)

By New England Nomad

Date Of Event: December 7, 2024

Location: 144 Federal St, Salem, MA

Parking: There are several parking lots and garages in the Salem area

Universally Accessible: No, many of the homes do not have ramps or universally accessible entry

The second home on the Christmas In Salem tour is the Thomas Whittredge House. Thomas Whittredge, a shipmaster from Salem, purchased the land for the home on November 30, 1799. The house was finally built in 1802. The boundaries of the from the original deed have not changed an inch.

Fittingly, this home on Federal Street is built in the original Federal style which was popular from 1780 to 1820. The front facade is most noticeable due to its Doric pilasters elliptical fanlight above the door. Originally, there was a two story stable and a shed and outhouses on the property.

Whittredge was a master mariner who traded in the mid-Atlantic states. He owned two vessels that served as privateers during the war of 1812. He and his wife Sarah, a native of Danvers, were married in 1793. They lived in the home with their 4 children until Thomas’ death in 1829. Sarah lived in the house until 1841 when she transferred the deed to her daughter and son-in-law. The house, which was originally a single family home, was divided into a two-family home around 1885.

During the 1990s, a fire damaged the home. It would not be fully rebuilt until 20 years later.

The home still has its original floors in the fireplace area.

The house was dressed up for the holidays with bow, ribbons and a variety of lights!

If you look closely up this stairwell, you might see a portrait of one of the family members!

And what holiday home would be complete without a poinsettia! The best part were the free treats in the bowl!

Some of the visitors got into the holiday spirit and wore their best headwear for the event!

11 Comments   |  tags: , , , , , , , , | posted in Christmas In Salem, Massachusetts, New England, photographs, photography, photos, Salem, travel

December 19, 2024

2024 Christmas In Salem Part 1 – The Cotting-Smith Assembly House (Salem, MA)

By New England Nomad

Date Of Visit: December 7, 2024

Location: 138 Federal St, Salem, MA

Parking: There are several parking lots and garages in the Salem area

Universally Accessible: No, many of the homes do not have ramps or universally accessible entry

When you ask most people what they think of when they think of Salem, MA they will most likely reply with something about Halloween and witches. However, Salem has become an all year round attraction. In fact, the Christmas in Salem event has quickly become one of the more popular events in Salem.

Christmas In Salem is a series of guided tours at 13 historic homes and buildings in Salem, MA. In these series of posts, I will take you all on these tours and give some observations from my perspective through my photos and the information provided by the informative tour hosts and the literature from this event.

The first home on the Christmas In Salem tour is the Cotting-Smith Assembly House (aka as the Assembly House) on Federal St. This house was used as the headquarters of the tour. People registered for the tour by showing their receipt and, upon registering, were given a handbook with the addresses and writeups for each building.

Built in 1782 as a “Federalist Clubhouse”, the Cotting-Smith Assembly House was used as a ballroom and concert venue as well as a place to host lectures and other events for Salem’s elite. The Marquis de Lafayette was said to have danced in that very house in 1784 and it is said that George Washington dined there in 1789. While the original documentation for the building is not available, it is believed the house was essentially plain and functional in its original state in 1782.

The building was originally funded as a joint stock venture. Once it was rendered obsolete in 1792, Jonathan Waldo, one of the original developers, obtained full ownership. Waldo then sold the house to Samuel Putnam in 1794. Either Waldo or Putnam hired renowned Salem architect and craftsman Samuel_McIntire to remodel it as a private home. McIntire added 4 pillar of iconic pilasters to the second floor facade and a pediment centered above. The Assembly House is said to the the only wooden structure designed by McIntire with a pavilion front. The house was later remodeled during the 1830s or 40s. During this time the Greek Revival portico was added to the front of the house featuring an ornate frieze of carved grape vines by master carpenter Joseph True. The Assembly House, which is now owned by the Peabody Essex Museum, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The building acted as the meeting place for visitors to get their handbook of houses to visit and map of all of the buildings on the tour. So, there wasn’t much decor at this particular home. However, I did see some photo worthy things.

Sometimes the little things can tell a lot about a home. For instance, this wallpaper spoke to the trade relations between Salem and other countries. This wallpaper, which shows what looks like a rendition of life and culture of the people of Asia, may have been an example of how the owners traveled to certain parts of Asia. It was not unusual for people to put up wallpaper that reminded them of places they traveled to or traded with.

This is not an original print, though. It is a stylized representation of wallpaper from that time.

While wallpaper may not be in vogue now, it was a treasured possession of the wealthy at the time this house was built.

According to Historic New England, the earliest record of wallpaper in America is in the estate inventory of a Boston stationer in 1700, where “7 quires of painted paper and three reams of painted paper” were listed. But, only one wallpaper in Historic New England’s collection with a history in New England dates back to the 1700s. Like all early references, this was more descriptive of quantity than of design. Only one wallpaper in Historic New England’s collection with a history in New England dates to this early period. This wallpaper was later used to cover a copy book of poetry in 1783.

Initially, paper hangings, as wallpaper was called in the eighteenth century, were only available from stationer and book sellers. Or they could be custom ordered from merchants who specialized in importing luxury goods. Eventually, wall paper could be purchased from upholsterers.

Prior to 1760, only the wealthiest colonists in urban areas in New England could afford wallpaper. Wallpaper was expensive because of the process involved in making it. The rolls the wallpaper was printed on had to be made of individual sheets of paper. These sheets were glued together. Then, they were hand printed with wood blocks, one block for each color of the design.

That is what makes the Christmas In Salem event so interesting. You can learn so much about the history of wallpaper just by touring a historic home!

Please join me on my tours of all of these historic homes!

You can find me on Instagram here, new.england.nomad_

You can follow me on Facebook here.

If you want to see more photography from New England, click here to join my Photographers of New England Group on Facebook.

I don’t do Twitter and I’m too old for TikTok!

14 Comments   |  tags: , , , , , , , , , , , | posted in Christmas, Christmas In Salem, historical, Massachusetts, New England, photographs, photography, photos, travel, Uncategorized

December 16, 2024

Holiday Kingdom (Downtown Crossing, Boston, MA)

By New England Nomad

Date Of Visit: December 6, 2024

Location: Downtown Crossing, Boston, MA

Cost: Free

Parking: There are several parking garages in the area

Hours: They are visible 24 hours a day until Jan. 2

Universally Accessible: Yes

Dog Friendly: Yes

Summary: Twelve 16 foot nutcrackers with animal characteristics have been

Website: Holiday Kingdom

The nutcrackers have taken over Boston!

Just in time for the holiday season, 12 sixteen foot nutcrackers have been placed throughout in Boston’s Downtown Crossing area. But, these are not any regular nutcrackers.

The nutcrackers, which are fashioned with similar attire one would find on an actual nutcracker, have one significant difference…they have animal heads!

The animals for the designs of the nutcrackers were selected by children during a visit with Downtown Boston Alliance President Michael J. Nichols at a local Boston day care center. Some of the animals they suggested using for that statues include an elephant, a bear, an eagle, a duck (specifically a mallard) and a dog among other animals.

Most of the nutcrackers, 7 to be exact, are located on Washington St. For a point of reference, I am showing the statues from the area of Washington St near the Paramount and going up Washington St. I’m including a photo of the Paramount just because, even though it’s arguably one of the most over photographed spot in Boston (I see you Acorn St and Fan Pier).

The first statue is a polar bear. It is located by the Suffolk University Modern Theater (and the Paramount Theater).

This cute little cat is located near the WINDR Museum on Washington St. I don’t like that smile. It looks like he or she got into some cat nip!

This mallard is located near Snipes (467 Washington St). Sometimes it was difficult to get a straight on photo of these statues because cars were parked in front of them. I actually just walked around and waited for the vehicles to move. But, taking a photo from an angle was a better option for this statue because the bill of the duck looks better from an angle.

I found this unicorn on Winter St after I took the next left after the mallard.

Then, I walked back towards Washington St and crossed over to Winter St where I found these 4 statues of a rhino, a horse, an elephant and an eagle near Macy’s (450 Washington St).

Then, I continued back onto Washington St to photograph the remaining statues. I found this deer near the Gap and DSW stores.

Just as an fyi, the attached map is not accurate. The map shows the dog as being at this location.

These 2 statues of a dog and another duck are located at the popular stairs between the TJ Maxx and Old Navy. I liked how the buildings looked in the background.

The last statue I found was of this beer near the Jewelers Building (333 Washington St)

All of the statues are easy to find and accessible to all. And I love the little accessories like the hats and the epaulets on their shoulders! I also appreciate how some of the animals seem to be talking or making faces in some cases. The best part, though, is the lights, of course. While you can view them day or night, the best time to view them is at night when the colors stand out more. However, the features may be easier to see during the daylight hours. But, don’t wait too long to see them. The statues will only be there until Jan. 2, 2025.

Of course, Boston was decked out with Christmas decor during my visit! So, as a bonus, I am adding this photo of one of the stars installed near one of the main streets in the city.

21 Comments   |  tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , | posted in Animal Kingdom, animals, Boston, Christmas, Holiday Kingdom, Massachusetts, New England, photographs, photography, photos, statues, travel