Usually crowded Boston landmarks like Fenway Park and Faneuil Hall cut a stark figure as they are deserted amid the coronavirus pandemic lockdown

Juliana KaplanApr 20, 2020, 20:52 IST

Masked statues in front of Fenway.Juliana Kaplan/Business Insider

In the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, major cities around the United States are shutdown as residents practice social distancing.
I went out — by car — into my native Boston to see what the city looked like.
Bustling downtown was silent — and even Dunkin' Donuts was closed.
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Around the world, major cities are deserted due to the coronavirus pandemic. Bustling downtowns and traffic-choked streets have come to a standstill.

I'm currently riding out the pandemic in my native Boston. In Massachusetts, our stay-home advisory — and closure of nonessential businesses — has been extended through May 4.

Several tenets of Boston life have already been radically altered: The Red Sox aren't playing. There's no traffic on Storrow Drive, a notoriously crowded parkway that deposits drivers in different downtown locations. The T — Boston's subway system, which generally has up to 1 million riders a day — isn't crammed with commuters.

On a recent sunny day, I took a drive with my family to see how the city has the changed in the midst of a pandemic. Here's what I saw.

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But even Dunkin' Donuts was closed. For reference, Dunkin' remained open during the Boston Marathon bombing lockdown.

A non-drive through Dunkin'. Juliana Kaplan/Business Insider

The line — which was practicing social distancing — stretched around the block and then some.

The first part of the line. Juliana Kaplan/Business Insider

In fact, the only place we saw people was at a Trader Joe's in Allston, a generally student-dominated neighborhood.

The store had its own bouncer. Juliana Kaplan/Business Insider

MIT was also very quiet. Surprisingly, we saw more people milling around MIT's campus than at Harvard. On March 10, MIT went online for the semester, and students living on campus were told to move out by March 17.

One of MIT's Maclaurin Buildings. Juliana Kaplan/Business Insider

MIT was also very quiet. Surprisingly, we saw more people milling around MIT's campus than at Harvard. On March 10, MIT went online for the semester, and students living on campus were told to move out by March 17.

Harvard was very quiet. We saw a smattering of people walking through Harvard Yard, but it was eerily quiet. Harvard students were sent home from campus in March.

The main Harvard gates. Juliana Kaplan/Business Insider

Across the river in Cambridge, it was equally quiet.

Cambridge City Hall. Juliana Kaplan/Business Insider

The ticket office at Fenway was completely closed. The MLB season is currently indefinitely paused.

No tickets when there's no games being played. Juliana Kaplan/Business Insider

Fenway would usually be bustling during baseball season. But no one was jostling for Fenway Franks or scalped tickets.

There was even parking. Juliana Kaplan/Business Insider

Statues of Ted Williams, Bobby Doerr, Johnny Pesky, and Dom DiMaggio outside of Fenway Park all wore masks.

The four were lifelong friends and teammates on the Red Sox. Juliana Kaplan/Business Insider

Chinatown streets were empty. Generally, they're filled with downtown workers, shoppers, and residents.

There was even street parking. Juliana Kaplan/Business Insider

Commonwealth Avenue, the main drag into Boston University, was also empty. On March 11, Boston University moved all of its classes online.

A Boston Strong sign on an overpass. Juliana Kaplan/Business Insider

Newbury Street, a shopping and dining hub, was empty. Many shops were boarded up.

Normally, Newbury would be packed on a Saturday. Juliana Kaplan/Business Insider

Boston's Four Seasons hotel was exceptionally quiet, like many hotels today — almost 80% of rooms across the US are empty.

Four Seasons hotel. Juliana Kaplan/Business Insider

One historic home in Beacon Hill displayed signs of support for Boston's frontline workers, thanking doctors and EMTs.

The sign was hung outside a trendy Beacon Hill home. Juliana Kaplan/Business Insider

Beacon Hill, one of Boston's oldest and trendiest neighborhoods, seemed hunkered down. We saw a few residents out getting groceries.

An empty Beacon Hill street. Juliana Kaplan/Business Insider

The entrance to the Back Bay, another trendy and upscale neighborhood, was also empty. Seeing Boylston Street traffic-free on a weekend was a first for me.

Boylston Street. Juliana Kaplan/Business Insider

Boston's Old State House — the site of the Boston Massacre and the first reading of the Declaration of Independence to Bostonians — is closed.

There's also a subway station underneath it. Juliana Kaplan/Business Insider

Boston City Hall was quiet, with lines of Bluebikes awaiting riders. City Hall Plaza often hosts large scale events for the city, such as Boston Pride, which has been postponed.

City Hall Plaza. Juliana Kaplan/Business Insider

Boston City Hall was quiet, with lines of Bluebikes awaiting riders. City Hall Plaza often hosts large scale events for the city, such as Boston Pride, which has been postponed.

The Boston Common — a larger park next to the Boston Public Garden — was also empty. I saw more people out for walks in the park, but still nowhere near a typical spring weekend. The ones who were there seemed to be observing a respectful 6 foot distance from others.

An empty ice skating rink. Juliana Kaplan/Business Insider

The Boston Common — a larger park next to the Boston Public Garden — was also empty. I saw more people out for walks in the park, but still nowhere near a typical spring weekend. The ones who were there seemed to be observing a respectful 6 foot distance from others.

The Boston Public Garden was deserted. It's America's first public botanical garden, and is generally full of people picnicking, riding Boston's swan boats, and photographing the flowers. While there were a few people out for walks, to even be able to look into the garden and not see a person was jarring.

The entrance to the Boston Public Garden. Juliana Kaplan/Business Insider

The Boston Public Garden was deserted. It's America's first public botanical garden, and is generally full of people picnicking, riding Boston's swan boats, and photographing the flowers. While there were a few people out for walks, to even be able to look into the garden and not see a person was jarring.

The Boston Public Library, another landmark, was also empty. All Boston Public Library branches are closed until further notice.

A strange sight in Copley Square. Juliana Kaplan/Business Insider

The same was true in iconic Copley Square, a historic public square and park in the heart of downtown. On even a temperate day, Copley Square would be jampacked with picnickers, tourists, and even farmer markets.

The scene in Copley Square. Juliana Kaplan/Business Insider

The same was true in iconic Copley Square, a historic public square and park in the heart of downtown. On even a temperate day, Copley Square would be jampacked with picnickers, tourists, and even farmer markets.

Faneuil Hall, a historical site that is normally swarmed with tourists, was almost completely empty. In 2014, Faneuil Hall was the seventh most visited tourist attraction in the world.

An empty Faneuil Hall. Juliana Kaplan/Business Insider

Faneuil Hall, a historical site that is normally swarmed with tourists, was almost completely empty. In 2014, Faneuil Hall was the seventh most visited tourist attraction in the world.

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Usually crowded Boston landmarks like Fenway Park and Faneuil Hall cut a stark figure as they are deserted amid the coronavirus pandemic lockdown

But even Dunkin' Donuts was closed. For reference, Dunkin' remained open during the Boston Marathon bombing lockdown.

The line — which was practicing social distancing — stretched around the block and then some.

In fact, the only place we saw people was at a Trader Joe's in Allston, a generally student-dominated neighborhood.

MIT was also very quiet. Surprisingly, we saw more people milling around MIT's campus than at Harvard. On March 10, MIT went online for the semester, and students living on campus were told to move out by March 17.

Harvard was very quiet. We saw a smattering of people walking through Harvard Yard, but it was eerily quiet. Harvard students were sent home from campus in March.

Across the river in Cambridge, it was equally quiet.

The ticket office at Fenway was completely closed. The MLB season is currently indefinitely paused.

Fenway would usually be bustling during baseball season. But no one was jostling for Fenway Franks or scalped tickets.

Statues of Ted Williams, Bobby Doerr, Johnny Pesky, and Dom DiMaggio outside of Fenway Park all wore masks.

Chinatown streets were empty. Generally, they're filled with downtown workers, shoppers, and residents.

Commonwealth Avenue, the main drag into Boston University, was also empty. On March 11, Boston University moved all of its classes online.

Newbury Street, a shopping and dining hub, was empty. Many shops were boarded up.

Boston's Four Seasons hotel was exceptionally quiet, like many hotels today — almost 80% of rooms across the US are empty.

One historic home in Beacon Hill displayed signs of support for Boston's frontline workers, thanking doctors and EMTs.

Beacon Hill, one of Boston's oldest and trendiest neighborhoods, seemed hunkered down. We saw a few residents out getting groceries.

The entrance to the Back Bay, another trendy and upscale neighborhood, was also empty. Seeing Boylston Street traffic-free on a weekend was a first for me.

Boston's Old State House — the site of the Boston Massacre and the first reading of the Declaration of Independence to Bostonians — is closed.

Boston City Hall was quiet, with lines of Bluebikes awaiting riders. City Hall Plaza often hosts large scale events for the city, such as Boston Pride, which has been postponed.

The Boston Common — a larger park next to the Boston Public Garden — was also empty. I saw more people out for walks in the park, but still nowhere near a typical spring weekend. The ones who were there seemed to be observing a respectful 6 foot distance from others.

The Boston Public Library, another landmark, was also empty. All Boston Public Library branches are closed until further notice.

The same was true in iconic Copley Square, a historic public square and park in the heart of downtown. On even a temperate day, Copley Square would be jampacked with picnickers, tourists, and even farmer markets.

Faneuil Hall, a historical site that is normally swarmed with tourists, was almost completely empty. In 2014, Faneuil Hall was the seventh most visited tourist attraction in the world.