Quack, Quack From Boston!

So, earlier this week then kids and I went on one of the famous Boston Duck Tours. (photos to follow at a later date!)

The tour is conducted in a WWII amphibious vehicle known by the military acronym DUKW....which evolved into "Duck". The vehicles were used during the war to carry both men and cargo, on water and on land. Approximately 21 000 DUKWs were built during WWII, by the General Motors Company. Women made up much of the labour force that built the vehicles because the men were off fighting the war. The first four weeks after the Normandy landing, 40% of the supplies that went ashore were carried by DUKWs. I believe the statistic says that there are about 2000 DUKWs remaining today.

Some of the interesting facts that we learned on the tour:

- the area of Boston known as Beacon Hill still has gas powered "lantern type" street lights to this day. The lights burn day and night because the "powers that be" in Boston decided that it would be more costly to hire someone to turn them on and off every day than it would be to leave them burning around the clock.

- the Prudential Tower (where Kevin's office is) was completed in 1965, and at that time it was the tallest building in Boston with 52 stories (Kevin's office is on the 36th floor). The John Hancock Tower, now the tallest building in all of New England is just down the road from the Prudential Tower. It has 63 stories.

- Boston's Public Garden is the oldest public botanical garden in the United States. The Swan Boats have operated in the Public Gardens since 1877.

- the Massachusetts State House is the oldest State House in the nation. Sam Adams and Paul Revere laid the cornerstone in 1795.

- there is an "old" State House and a "new" State house in Boston. It was from the "old" State House that the Declaration of Independence was first read to the people of Boston...two weeks after it was signed. The location of our temporary apartment is right next door to the "old" State House.

- the USS Constitution is the oldest commissioned warship afloat in the world. It was launched in Boston is 1797, and it is still on display here.

I was surprised at how well the kids sat through the tour. It was fairly lengthy at about 90 minutes. They both sat through the entire thing. The splash into the Charles River was the highlight for them both...no surprise there!

Overall, a very successful and educational day!