Fan Pier

The Boston Fish Pier Historic District in South Boston is a historic waterfront area of roughly 12 acres that still serves as the main dock for fishing boats in Boston Harbor. The city's fishing tradition goes back to the 17th century, but it wasn't until 1910 that a new pier was planned, because of a lack of space and sanitation problems at the old wharves. After two years of construction, the pier opened in 1912, and the buildings were completed by 1914. Especially well known was the eight-story cold storage building, which was considered the largest in the world when it went into operation. The pier, which at times handled more than 150,000 tons of fish, has been listed as a Historic District on the National Register of Historic Places since 2017 and offers visitors a glimpse into Boston's maritime history.