Today, its place in Copley Square-a pulsating, large tourist attraction in the heart of the city’s most bustling area-is marked with the collisions of people, stories, and the vagaries of urban life, all in the heart of a major American city.Īs Michel de Certeau writes, “People moving through the city at ground level write the ‘urban text’ without being able to read it. Tracing the Tower’s historical origins is important in understanding its current place in the city of Boston today, playing host to the idea of this as the ultimate, urban palimpsest-a building with various “layers” of history, stories, and public receptions that have shaped it into what it is today.

With this theme in mind, it’s particularly fascinating to have a look at these various points in time that exemplify this idea of the Tower as an urban palimpsest, changing in meaning and representation over the years.

The many “layers” of its history are multifaceted, and go to show that the role urban landmarks and spaces play can very effectively vary over time. When looking at it through these various perspectives, it becomes apparent that the John Hancock Tower is quite the urban palimpsest: a tower that, despite its historically rocky past and mishaps, has brought Boston to the forefront of architectural and technological innovation. The tower’s place in Boston history and culture over the past few decades, since its erection in 1965, has been a fascinating one, and one that lends it to exploring through multiple lenses. An architectural marvel at an impressive 790 feet, it towers over the city and is very distinguishable when looking at the Boston skyline. Located in the heart of Boston, right in the famous Copley Square, is the John Hancock Tower*, the tallest building in all of New England.

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