Christian Science Plaza
The Christian Science Plaza, also called the Christian Science Center, is a 13.5-acre landmark plaza in Back Bay, Boston, at the corner of Massachusetts Avenue and Huntington Avenue. It is the headquarters of the Church of Christ, Scientist, and its long reflecting pool, church buildings and open lawns are open to visitors as a public space. The Plaza is also home to The Mapparium, a three-story stained-glass globe, and to the offices of The Christian Science Monitor. This page covers the address, the history of the Plaza, what to do there, tours and tickets, parking and the Back Bay sights nearby. It also shows how the Plaza fits into a day with Boston Sightseeing.
Location
The Christian Science Plaza's Massachusetts Avenue address is 210 Massachusetts Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, which is the Publishing House that holds the Mapparium. The Mother Church, the Plaza's main church building, is nearby at 250 Massachusetts Avenue. The Plaza sits in Back Bay, close to the Prudential Center side of the neighborhood, and Newbury Street is nearby. Fenway Park and the museums around the Fenway are a short ride away.
Getting There By T And Parking
The Green Line E branch stops at Symphony Station, which is the nearest T stop listed by Atlas Obscura for the Mother Church. The restoration of the Plaza also added a new access point from the Back Bay and Prudential Center side, so walkers can enter without going around the block. Check the MBTA for current service on the day you travel.
If you are driving, a garage is listed at 235 Huntington Avenue on a parking booking site, which shows it open around the clock. The listing does not say whether the garage is open to the general public, so confirm access and the price before you park, since rates change by day and by event.
History Of The Christian Science Plaza
Mary Baker Eddy founded the Church of Christ, Scientist in 1879, and the Plaza grew around its Boston headquarters. The original Mother Church opened in 1894 and was designed by Franklin I. Welch. It seats about 900 people. A much larger Extension followed between 1904 and 1906. Charles Brigham began the design, and S.S. Beman took over in 1905 and changed it substantially. It seats about 3,000 and holds one of the world's largest pipe organs, built by Aeolian-Skinner of Boston in 1952.
The Christian Science Publishing House opened in 1934 and now houses The Christian Science Monitor, the Mary Baker Eddy Library and The Mapparium. The modern plaza that most visitors recognize was designed by I.M. Pei & Partners, with Araldo Cossutta leading the architecture and Sasaki Associates on the landscape. Its newer buildings date to the early 1970s. The Colonnade Building was completed in 1972, and Reflection Hall, the former Sunday School, followed in 1971, though one source gives 1973.
The City of Boston named the Plaza a Boston Landmark in 2011. The Church owns it, and a restoration report calls it Boston's largest privately owned open space. The Plaza went through its first major restoration in about 45 years, which rebuilt the reflecting pool and improved the gateways, seating and drainage.
Activities At Christian Science Plaza
Most visitors spend time outdoors first, then add one indoor stop. The Plaza is free to walk through, and it works well as a quiet break between busier Back Bay sights.
The Reflecting Pool And Gardens
The reflecting pool is the Plaza's best-known feature. It was about 700 feet long before the restoration, which shortened it by 16 feet at the Huntington Avenue end. Reports on the restoration say the new basin is much shallower, is lined with granite pavers and is usually empty for about five months of the year. The Plaza also has a circular fountain that families use to cool off in summer, a sunken garden, a tilted lawn and wood benches. The long view of the pool toward the Mother Church is a popular photo spot, so bring a camera in the early morning or late afternoon when the light is softer.
The Mapparium And How Do You See The World?
The Mapparium is a three-story stained-glass globe that you cross on a glass bridge, standing inside the world. It opened in 1935 and uses 608 glass panels, and its round shape creates a whispering effect, so two people at opposite ends of the bridge can hear each other quietly. The map shows the world as it was in the 1930s. The Mapparium now sits inside the How Do You See the World? experience in the Publishing House, along with exhibits on global progress and on Mary Baker Eddy. The Church's own page describes the Mapparium as a timed-ticket experience with paid admission for adults and free entry for ages 0 to 17. Museum pass pages from local libraries add that tickets are collected in the Welcome Hall on arrival, that advance reservations are not available and that showtimes run first come, first served. The Church's page and those pass pages differ a little, so check the Church's site for current hours, prices and how to get tickets. Those pass pages also say the other exhibits need no ticket.
The Mother Church And Tours
The Mother Church and its Extension are the architectural centerpiece of the Plaza, with a large domed sanctuary and the pipe organ. The Church lists tours of the Mother Church on its website, and a library pass page mentions weekend church tours. Atlas Obscura also reports periodic free organ concerts. Confirm times before you plan around any of them, since schedules change with services and events.
Nearby Attractions
Back Bay puts several Boston landmarks within a short ride or walk of the Plaza.
- Boston Symphony Hall: The home of the Boston Symphony Orchestra, on Massachusetts Avenue near Symphony Station.
- Newbury Street: Boston's best-known shopping street, with cafes, galleries and boutiques.
- Prudential Tower: A major Back Bay landmark beside the Plaza's new Prudential Center access point.
- Copley Square, Boston Public Library and Trinity Church: The Copley Square cluster, which matches Stops 6 and 7 on the Boston Sightseeing route.
- Fenway Park: The home of the Boston Red Sox, a short ride away.
- Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum and Museum of Fine Arts: Two of Boston's major art museums, in the Fenway area.
- Boston Public Garden: The city's famous garden, a longer stroll or a short ride away at the other end of Back Bay.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Christian Science Plaza?
The Christian Science Plaza is a 13.5-acre public plaza in Back Bay, Boston, built around the headquarters of the Church of Christ, Scientist. It has a long reflecting pool, the Mother Church, the Publishing House and The Mapparium.
Where is the Christian Science Center in Boston?
The Plaza is at the corner of Massachusetts Avenue and Huntington Avenue in Back Bay. Its Massachusetts Avenue address is 210 Massachusetts Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, the Publishing House. The Mother Church is at 250 Massachusetts Avenue.
Do you need tickets for the Christian Science Plaza?
No. The outdoor Plaza is a public space and does not need a ticket. The Mapparium has paid admission for adults, with free entry for ages 0 to 17, and the Church handles those tickets. Local library pass pages say tickets are collected in the Welcome Hall and cannot be reserved ahead, but check the Church's site for current rules.
Are there tours of the Christian Science Plaza?
The Church lists tours of the Mother Church on its website, and a library pass page mentions weekend tours. The Plaza itself is an outdoor space you can walk through on your own. Check the Church's site for current tour times.
Where is The Christian Science Monitor headquartered?
The Christian Science Monitor is headquartered in Boston, in the Christian Science Publishing House at 210 Massachusetts Avenue on the Plaza.
Is there parking at the Christian Science Plaza?
A garage is listed at 235 Huntington Avenue on a parking booking site. Confirm that it is open to the public, and check the rate and hours before you park, since prices vary by day and by event. The Green Line E branch to Symphony Station is an easier option for most visitors.
Is there a museum at the Christian Science Plaza?
Yes. The Mapparium and the How Do You See the World? exhibits are inside the Publishing House, along with exhibits on Mary Baker Eddy. The Mapparium needs a paid ticket, and library pass pages say the other exhibits need none. Confirm hours on the Church's site before you go.
Can you take photos at the Christian Science Plaza?
Yes, the outdoor Plaza and the reflecting pool are popular for photos. Rules inside the church and the exhibits can differ, so ask staff before you photograph indoors.
Who designed the Christian Science Plaza?
The modern plaza was designed by I.M. Pei & Partners, with Araldo Cossutta as the architect and Sasaki Associates on the landscape. The original Mother Church was designed by Franklin I. Welch.
Planning a Tour with Boston Sightseeing
The Christian Science Plaza is not a Boston Sightseeing stop, so combine it with the Back Bay stops. Boston Sightseeing runs a hop-on hop-off double-decker bus with commentary. Stop 6 is Boston Public Library at Copley Square, and Stop 7 is Trinity Church, so both put you in Back Bay. From there, take the Green Line E branch to Symphony Station or use the MBTA route planner for the best connection on the day.
A simple plan is to ride the Blue Route from Stop 1 at the New England Aquarium and Faneuil Hall, get off at Stop 6 or 7, and see Copley Square and Newbury Street first. Then continue to the Plaza for the reflecting pool, and add the Mapparium if you have time. The All Day ticket covers Stops 1 to 8. The Boston and Charlestown ticket covers Stops 1 to 11, and the Cruise Terminal ticket also includes Stops 12 to 15. See the ticket cards below for current options, and use the hop-on hop-off tour map to see every stop. The Church handles Mapparium tickets, so check its site before you go.
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