The Boston Fish Pier serves as a hub for Boston’s fishing industry and has done so since its inception in 1910. Located on Northern Avenue in South Boston, within Boston’s Inner Harbor, the pier was a vital center for one of the largest fishing fleets on the East Coast during the 1920s, processing 250 million pounds of fish annually. In 2017, the pier and its associated structures were added to the National Register of Historic Places. Additionally, the Boston Landmarks Commission is currently evaluating the site for designation as a Boston Landmark.
Description
The Boston Fish Pier is situated along the southern side of the main channel in Boston Harbor, directly across from Logan Airport to the north. Northern Avenue borders the pier on the south, extending east to west across the South Boston peninsula. Measuring 300 feet (91 meters) in width and 1,200 feet (370 meters) in length, the pier features two long, identical buildings that occupy much of its space, along with a smaller administration building at the end. Constructed from steel and concrete with terra cotta detailing, these buildings are notable for their high-arched hallways and 44 storefronts, which house businesses involved in various fishery operations.
History
Before the Fish Pier was built, Boston’s fishing industry operated from leased facilities on T Wharf, an extension of Long Wharf that was central to the city’s working waterfront for many years. As the lease for T Wharf expired in 1909, the Boston Fish Market Association partnered with city and state officials to develop a dedicated fishing facility on the South Boston waterfront. Initially referred to as Pier Six, construction began in 1910, and the associated buildings were completed in 1912. Designed by Henry F. Keyes, who also worked on the neighboring Commonwealth Pier, the Fish Pier initially included a massive eight-story cold storage facility capable of holding 15 million pounds of fish, which was considered the largest of its kind at the time.
By 1926, the pier supported 40 fishing vessels and could accommodate 80 vessels for unloading, handling 250 million pounds of fish that year. The industry experienced a peak in 1969, with 339 million pounds of fish landed at the pier. In 1972, the Massachusetts Port Authority assumed control of the facility, and significant upgrades were completed in 1979. While the exchange building at the pier’s end has been converted into a conference center, the pier remains a bustling site for fishery-related activities.