1776
Much of Boston was salt marsh prior to development of land.
1850
David Sears owned a large part of Brookline known as Cottage Farm. He erected a wooden bridge to connect to Cambridge, charging travelers a toll until the bridge was taken by the city of Boston in 1909.
1856
A rechartering of the Chelsea Branch, the Grand Junction Railroad was introduced and a bridge was constructed to cross over the Charles River.
1776
1880
1894
1899
1900
1921
1876
Landscape architect, Charles Eliot, designs a plan for the embankment of the Charles River, creating green space along Back Bay and terminating at the Cottage Farm Bridge.
1914
The Ford Motor Assembly Plant opens on Memorial Drive, directly across the Charles River from the site.
1928
The Cottage Farm Bridge is rebuilt, and is officially renamed the Boston University Bridge in 1949.
1951
Storrow Drive is created, disconnecting BU from the Esplanade. Eliot envisioned two lanes for vehicles that were blended into the landscape.
1960s
Construction of the Mass Turnkpike Boston Extension is completed, separting separated the North/South Boston University campus into two parts.
1867
1889
1931
1948
2014
1894