Winter in Boston is no joke. With lows bottoming out at around 19 degrees in January, and highs averaging in the high 30s to mid-40s from December through February, you’ll need to pack layers while visiting Boston in winter. Boston is at its most majestic (not to mention quietest and cheapest) during the most frigid months.
Fans of the white stuff will rejoice while sightseeing around Boston in the winter, especially if they arrive in January or February, when the average snowfall ranges from 12 to 14 inches. The fresh powder is optimal for sledding through Boston Common or snowshoeing at Gore Place. There are so many fun things to do in Boston in winter that you’ll almost forget that it’s cold.
Take a look at these incredible photos from Boston Public Library to see how severe the winter was in Boston in the 1920s and 1930s.
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| Horse pulling wagon slips in snow next to Common, 1920 |
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| Blizzard rouses havoc with a working horse near South Station, breaking shaft and dumping his load of snow, 1920 |
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| Christmas view, circa 1920 |
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| Horse and wagon accident next to Common, 1920 |
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| Horse falls on slippery street in Boston, 1920 |
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| Horse pulling wagon slips in snow, circa 1920 |
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| Horse-drawn sleigh for hauling goods, market district, circa 1920 |
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| Police officer helps woman through blinding snow during coldest blizzard to reach Boston, 1920 |
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| Shoveling snow, circa 1920 |
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| Statue of garrison, Comm. Ave., covered with snow, 1922 |
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| Fire alarm box almost covered up by severe snowstorm, 1923 |
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| Looking at the weather instruments on Common in snow, 1923 |
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| Skaters put up shoes in baseball backstop at Franklin Field, 1923 |
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| Snow bound Mt. Vernon Street, 1923 |
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| Horse slips on Tremont St., 1925 |
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| Hamilton statue, Commonwealth Ave. Mall covered with snow, 1928 |
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| Girls try snow shoes on Boston Common, circa 1930 |
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| Kids playing in Roxbury Park, 1930 |
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| Kids playing in woods, Roxbury, 1930 |
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| Remarkable snowstorm, big blizzard as it appeared on Scollay square, circa 1930 |
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| Snowstorm in Boston, circa 1930 |
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| Snowstorm in Boston, corner of Tremont and Boylston, 1930 |
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| Team of horses plow snow on Tremont Street Mall, circa 1930 |
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| Women use umbrellas to ward off snow, during snowstorm in downtown Boston, 1930 |
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| Crew shovels snow from Tremont St. near State House, 1933 |
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| Snowstorm, Joy Street, Beacon Hill, 1933 |
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| Tremont St. snowstorm, 1933 |
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| Beacon St. snow scene from State House, 1934 |
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| Snow bound autos on Boston streets, 1934. |
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| Snow bound autos on Boston streets, 1934 |
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| Boys riding ice cakes in Dorchester Bay, 1935 |
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| Kids ride ice cakes in Dorchester Bay, 1935 |
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| New type of plough for moving snow, 1935 |
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| Removing snow in Boston by hand and horse, 1935 |
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| Pedestrians and autos, big snow storm in Boston, 1936 |
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| Waterfront, snow covered, 1938 |
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| Atlantic Avenue elevated, circa 1939 |
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| Colored man digging out horse and cart, circa 1939 |
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| Digging out auto, circa 1939 |
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| Dumping snow, possibly South End, circa 1939 |
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| Horse-drawn sleigh in Boston neighborhood, 1939 |
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| Making snowmen, 1939 |
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| Men shoveling snow into trucks, 1939 |
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| Men shoveling snow into trucks, 1939 |
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| Snow covered autos, circa 1939 |
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| Snow scenes, 1939 |
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| Snowstorm scenes, circa 1939 |
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| Snowstorm scenes, circa 1939 |
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| Snowstorm scenes, circa 1939 |
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| State House grounds in the snow, 1939 |