CULTURE & HISTORY
Learn how Boston’s Latin Quarter came to be
Boston’s Latin Quarter is shaped by Afro-Latin culture, Spanish-speaking Caribbean immigration, youth advocacy, public art, small businesses, and generations of community building in Hyde Square and Jackson Square.
BOSTON’S LATIN QUARTER
A cultural district rooted in community
Boston’s Latin Quarter stretches from Hyde Square to Jackson Square, with Centre Street running through the middle of the district. The neighborhood has long been shaped by Latine residents, artists, business owners, families, and young people who have helped build the district’s cultural identity.
In 2016, guided by the advocacy of Hyde Square Task Force youth, the Boston City Council designated the Hyde/Jackson Square neighborhood as Boston’s Latin Quarter. In 2018, the Massachusetts Cultural Council recognized Boston’s Latin Quarter as an official Massachusetts Cultural District.
The cultural district designation helps preserve and uplift the history, contributions, and cultural presence of the Latine community, particularly the Afro-Latin community, that has shaped the neighborhood.
BLQ DOCUMENTARY
Stories of culture, belonging, and community
The Boston’s Latin Quarter documentary shares the history and evolution of the neighborhood through the voices of residents, business owners, artists, young people, and community leaders.
The film explores why preserving cultural neighborhoods matters and how Boston’s Latin Quarter serves as both a physical place and a symbolic home for culture, memory, and community connection.
HOW WE GOT HERE
YOUTH ADVOCACY, PUBLIC ART, AND CULTURAL PLACEKEEPING
Community roots
Boston’s Latin Quarter grew from generations of community building, local businesses, Spanish-speaking Caribbean immigration, and Afro-Latin cultural traditions.
Youth advocacy
HSTF youth helped renew the push for the district’s recognition and advocated for Boston’s Latin Quarter as a place where culture and community should be seen and preserved.
Cultural district recognition
The district was designated locally in 2016 and recognized by the Massachusetts Cultural Council in 2018 as an official Massachusetts Cultural District.
Explore More
Public art, landmarks, and neighborhood stories
Murals & Public Art
Explore murals, mosaics, sculptures, and public art that reflect the district’s culture, history, and community identity.
Blessed Sacrament Church
Learn about the history of Blessed Sacrament Church and its role as a neighborhood landmark and community anchor.
Self-Guided Tour
– Celina Miranda, Executive Director, Hyde Square Task Force
There is something so rich about having a city that affirms its diversity, its cultural, ethnic, and racial diversity. I think it can move us as a city forward.