City of Boston from South Boston, harbor with sailing ships

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South Boston's waterfront gives this view its character, with sailing ships riding at anchor in the harbor and the city's buildings rising beyond the water. Views like this were a staple of nineteenth-century city imagery, when Boston was one of the country's major ports and its wharves were crowded with vessels carrying cargo, passengers and goods to and from distant markets. Looking across the harbor from the south side of the water lets the viewer take in the sweep of masts against the skyline, a reminder of how closely the city's economy and appearance were tied to shipping.

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