Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All the United States Massachusetts Boston Calf Pasture Pumping Station

Calf Pasture Pumping Station

This beautiful architectural gem was the first waste treatment facility in Boston.

Boston, Massachusetts

Added By
ruinouswanderer
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
CAPTION
Calf Pasture Pumping Station.   ruinouswanderer / Atlas Obscura User
Calf Pasture Pumping Station.   ruinouswanderer / Atlas Obscura User
The historic Calf Pasture Pumping Station.   Magicpiano/cc by-sa 4.0
Calf Pasture Pumping Station.   ruinouswanderer / Atlas Obscura User
Calf Pasture Pumping Station.   ruinouswanderer / Atlas Obscura User
Calf Pasture Pumping Station.   ruinouswanderer / Atlas Obscura User
Calf Pasture Pumping Station.   ruinouswanderer / Atlas Obscura User
  Runmahr / Atlas Obscura User
  chris brat / Atlas Obscura User
  chris brat / Atlas Obscura User
19th century gatehouse (?) adjacent to the Pumping Station   DAndrews / Atlas Obscura User
Sunset at Calf Pasture Castle   DAndrews / Atlas Obscura User
Calf Pasture Pumping Station, Columbia Point, Boston   blueeyedginja / Atlas Obscura User
  blueeyedginja / Atlas Obscura User
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

On Columbia Point, a 350-acre peninsula in the Dorchester neighborhood of Boston, lies a mysterious and abandoned castle-like structure so lovely looking that most visitors would never guess what it was used for.

The historic peninsula is now home to the University of Massachusetts, and there are newly erected campus buildings sprawling all over the area. However, this gem of a building, the only remaining 19th-century structure on the point, stands out in stark contrast to its shiny new neighbors. Between 1630 and 1869, the marshlands of the peninsula were used as calf pastures (hence the name) and no, not used as a pump station for cow's milk like some may think. Instead, this site was the first waste drainage facility in Boston.

That's right, this alluring granite structure that exudes extravagance from the days of yore once pumped all of Boston's fecal matter out into the ocean. We can thank architect George Albert Clough for designing this beautiful home for the waste coming from our "royal thrones," which was officially granted National Historic Site distinction in 1990.

The main building has incredible architectural details to marvel at, as well as two notable plaques. One reads "B.I.S.," meaning "Boston Improved Sewer," and the other is the pumping station's construction date, 1883.

The dilapidated structure is interesting in and of itself, but its historical significance is also important. It is a symbol of the efforts and great lengths it took to acquire proper sanitation and waste management systems in a time when cholera and typhoid were rampant illnesses that threatened the lives of citizens. The facility helped pioneer systems that nowadays we largely take for granted. The station was an example of hygienics and healthful living for major cities all across the U.S., until it was eventually abandoned due to the creation of a newer facility in the late 1960s.

Related Tags

History Architecture Infrastructure Sewers

Know Before You Go

There is no specific street number for this building on Google maps, but the above map coordinates will plot you across the street. It is located catty-corner from the west side of the Edward M. Kennedy Institute on Mt. Vernon drive and is very hard to miss.

Community Contributors

Added By

ruinouswanderer

Edited By

alinekaplan, erjeffery, mrfaherty, Meg...

  • alinekaplan
  • erjeffery
  • mrfaherty
  • Meg
  • DAndrews
  • Runmahr
  • blueeyedginja
  • chris brat

Published

July 3, 2018

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Sources
  • http://www.dorchesteratheneum.org/page.php?id=584
  • "The Atlas of Boston History" by Nancy Seasholes
  • The Next Phase Blog, "Boston's Calf Pasture Pumping Station http://bit.ly/2tWWv6d
  • "The Atlas of Boston History" by Nancy Seasholes
Calf Pasture Pumping Station
University Dr N
Boston, Massachusetts
United States
42.316031, -71.03858
Get Directions

Nearby Places

Rainbow Swash

Boston, Massachusetts

miles away

Museum of Bad Art

Boston, Massachusetts

miles away

Ireland Unfree Will Never Be At Peace Mural

Boston, Massachusetts

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Boston

Boston

Massachusetts

Places 127
Stories 33

Nearby Places

Rainbow Swash

Boston, Massachusetts

miles away

Museum of Bad Art

Boston, Massachusetts

miles away

Ireland Unfree Will Never Be At Peace Mural

Boston, Massachusetts

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Boston

Boston

Massachusetts

Places 127
Stories 33

Related Places

  • London, England

    Urine Deflectors of Fleet Street

    One of the few remaining examples of 19th-century London’s attempt to clean up its reputation.

  • The reredorter.

    Somerset, England

    Muchelney Abbey

    The ruined abbey includes a rare surviving example of a monastic latrine.

  • The dam below the bridge, making it look like more water is running beneath.

    Regina, Saskatchewan

    Albert Memorial Bridge

    This Art Deco landmark claims to be the longest bridge over the shortest span of water in the world.

  • Windcatcher of Dolat Abad in Yazd.

    Yazd, Iran

    Dolat Abad Windcatcher

    Long before air conditioning, Persian architects found an ingenious way to cool off.

  • Mandu, India

    Ujala Baoli

    This magical and eccentric stepwell is a hidden treasure within the ancient fort city of Mandu.

  • Neemrana baori.

    Neemrana, India

    Neemrana Baori

    This abandoned stepwell is one of the largest, deepest, and certainly one of the creepiest in India.

  • The bridge chapel at Rotherham.

    Rotherham, England

    The Chapel of Our Lady

    This oddly placed 15th-century church is one of only six bridge chapels left in England.

  • Casselman’s River Bridge today

    Grantsville, Maryland

    Casselman River Bridge

    This beautiful stone arch bridge wasn't even expected to stand for one day, but people have been crossing it for centuries.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.