Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters

Take your next trip with Atlas Obscura!

Our small-group adventures are inspired by our Atlas of the world's most fascinating places, the stories behind them, and the people who bring them to life.

Visit Adventures
Trips Highlight
A view of Brașov’s Old Town.
Romania • 12 days, 11 nights
Legends of Romania: Castles, Ruins & Culinary Delights
from
Balkans road trip
Bosnia and Herzegovina • 9 days, 8 nights
Balkans Road Trip: Serbia, Croatia & Bosnia and Herzegovina
from
View all trips
Top Destinations
Latest Places
Most Popular Places Random Place Lists Itineraries
Add a Place
Download the App
Top Destinations
View All Destinations »

Countries

  • Australia
  • Canada
  • China
  • France
  • Germany
  • India
  • Italy
  • Japan

Cities

  • Amsterdam
  • Barcelona
  • Beijing
  • Berlin
  • Boston
  • Budapest
  • Chicago
  • London
  • Los Angeles
  • Mexico City
  • Montreal
  • Moscow
  • New Orleans
  • New York City
  • Paris
  • Philadelphia
  • Rome
  • San Francisco
  • Seattle
  • Stockholm
  • Tokyo
  • Toronto
  • Vienna
  • Washington, D.C.
Latest Places
View All Places »
The ‘Old Secretariat’ government building in New Delhi.
The 'Old Secretariat'
This set is inspired by a Roman arena.
Bozdağ Film Platolari
The Sea Water Distilling Plant.
Sea Water Distilling Plant
Contemplative paths.
Ayo Rock Formations
Latest Places to Eat & Drink
View All Places to Eat »
The pavlova comes crowned with jewel-like fruit.
Central Park Boathouse
The Village Tavern of Long Grove - exterior.
The Village Tavern
Hunter House Hamburgers
L’Escamoteur
Names on the bartop.
The Dive
Recent Stories
All Stories Video Podcast
Most Recent Stories
View All Stories »
Wortley built the wooden backpack she used while retracing Alexandra David-Néel’s journey from a chair she found on the street in London.
How Elise Wortley Climbed Mont Blanc in 1830s Women’s Attire
28 days ago
Simplicity is key: Just a slice of bread with a sprinkling of salt and pepper is the perfect accompaniment.
The Sweet Second Life of Creole Cream Cheese
28 days ago
My rendition of frog legs, popping mushroom curry, pad prik khing with salted egg yolk, and sweet khanom thuai.
Recreating My Favorite Meal From Thailand
28 days ago
Inside London’s Gorgeously Curated ‘Art Restaurants’
28 days ago

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 Ruins of Schoolmaster Hill

Ruins of Schoolmaster Hill

Ralph Waldo Emerson spent two years living here decades before it became a Frederick Law Olmsted-designed park.

Boston, Massachusetts

Added By
katesoeser
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
The ruins at Schoolmaster Hill   katesoeser / Atlas Obscura User
The ruins at Schoolmaster Hill   katesoeser / Atlas Obscura User
  chris brat / Atlas Obscura User
  chris brat / Atlas Obscura User
Great find on bike ride   paulflaherty10 / Atlas Obscura User
  paulflaherty10 / Atlas Obscura User
  paulflaherty10 / Atlas Obscura User
Schoolmaster Hill   katesoeser / Atlas Obscura User
A pathway that runs through Schoolmaster Hill   katesoeser / Atlas Obscura User
The gates from a distance   katesoeser / Atlas Obscura User
A view of the gates   katesoeser / Atlas Obscura User
Gates at Schoolmaster Hill   katesoeser / Atlas Obscura User
  paulflaherty10 / Atlas Obscura User
Overlooking the Golf Course at Schoolmaster Hill   katesoeser / Atlas Obscura User
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

Well before it had any buildings or even a name, Schoolmaster Hill was a place where nature was appreciated. Ralph Waldo Emerson, credited as the father of transcendentalism, spent two years living on the hill, and later it was turned into a public park designed by the famed Frederick Law Olmsted in 1882.

When Schoolmaster Hill was first designed, it was made up of a terrace which connected to a shelter leading toward steps on the hill, which was covered with vines and furnished with beautiful furniture. The building on schoolmaster Hill was multi-use, serving as a superintendent's office, and a golf course club house throughout its lifetime. The building provided hot water free of charge to visitors looking to make tea, and was a source of unity and community in the Boston area.

Some years after the park was first designed, John C. Olmsted, Frederick Law Olmsted’s stepson, redesigned the original park structure on Schoolmaster Hill to serve as a park facilities building. Visitors could come, enjoy their free tea, and look out over the view of the rolling hills.

Unfortunately, in the 1930s, the original building, which had been serving as a golf clubhouse for decades, was partially destroyed by a fire. In the 1990s, the Franklin Park Coalition and the Boston Parks Department partly restored the ruins, which had remained largely intact in the 60 years since the fire. Now what remains of Schoolmaster Hill is the hollow, restored ruins of the building and one of Boston's most beautiful lookouts. 

Related Tags

Parks Design

Know Before You Go

There is parking along Circuit Drive. Bathrooms at the William J. Devine Golf Clubhouse

Community Contributors

Added By

katesoeser

Edited By

aribrown, paulflaherty10, chris brat

  • aribrown
  • paulflaherty10
  • chris brat

Published

July 14, 2017

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Ruins of Schoolmaster Hill
1 Circuit Dr
Boston, Massachusetts
United States
42.303054, -71.095715
Visit Website
Get Directions

Nearby Places

Franklin Park's Overlook Shelter Ruins

Boston, Massachusetts

miles away

Old Franklin Park Zoo Bear Pens

Boston, Massachusetts

miles away

Forest Hills Cemetery

Boston, Massachusetts

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Boston

Boston

Massachusetts

Places 127
Stories 34

Nearby Places

Franklin Park's Overlook Shelter Ruins

Boston, Massachusetts

miles away

Old Franklin Park Zoo Bear Pens

Boston, Massachusetts

miles away

Forest Hills Cemetery

Boston, Massachusetts

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Boston

Boston

Massachusetts

Places 127
Stories 34

Related Places

  • Inside the replica of Mark Twain’s study found in the middle of the miniature golf course.

    Elmira, New York

    Eldridge Park

    This formerly abandoned amusement park includes a classic carousel and a replica of Mark Twain's famous hut-like Elmira study.

  • Crooked Slide Park

    Barry's Bay, Ontario

    Crooked Slide Park

    Inside this park, an engineering marvel from the early 20th-century still stands.

  • “La pierre et le feu” (artist  Jean-Pierre Morin).

    Montreal, Québec

    René Lévesque Park

    This exuberantly curated landscape is one of the largest sculpture gardens in Canada.

  • Sand filtration pits repurposed as tree planters.

    Denver, Colorado

    Carpio Sanguinette Park

    An innovative local park built from an abandoned sewage treatment plant.

  • Rotterdam, Netherlands

    Het Badkonijn

    A giant floating rubber duck-bunny painted with a different design every year.

  • Kyoto Garden.

    London, England

    Kyoto Garden

    A little slice of Japan and its aesthetics in London's Holland Park.

  • Al-Andalus Garden.

    Cairo, Egypt

    Al-Andalus Garden

    A preserved oasis with traditional Andalusian-style architecture and beautiful views of the Nile.

  • The Underground House.

    San Luis Obispo, California

    Poly Canyon - Experimental Structures Lab

    A deserted hodgepodge of experimental structures designed by nearby university students.

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.