Boston in Suffolk County, Massachusetts — The American Northeast (New England)

Mill Creek

Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, November 6, 2026

1. Mill Creek Marker

Inscription. The band of granite pavers in the sidewalk leading south from here marks the west bank of Mill Creek, a canal dug in the 1640s to connect Boston Harbor with Mill Pond. The pond was formed by damming a large tidal cove near the mouth of the Charles River. On the rising tide, water flowed from the harbor through Mill Creek and into Mill Pond, where it was impounded by the dam. As the tide fell, water in Mill Pond was released through wooden gates to power the water wheels of gristmills around the pond.

The Town of Boston built timber bulkheads in the 1770s to define the banks of Mill Creek. In 1999, archaeologists found the remnants of bulkheads adjacent to Surface Road at a depth of 5 feet during construction of the I-93 Tunnel.

Mill Pond was filled between 1807 and 1828, providing additional land on which Boston could build. The filled pond is now known as the Bulfinch Triangle, after the renowned Boston architect — Charles Bulfinch — who designed the distinctive street grid that survives today. Mill Creek was filled in 1833 and became Blackstone Street.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic

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lists: Anthropology & Archaeology • Roads & Vehicles • Waterways & Vessels. A significant historical year for this entry is 1999.

Location. 42° 21.748′ N, 71° 3.435′ W. Marker is in Boston, Massachusetts, in Suffolk County. It is on John F. Fitzgerald Surface Road south of New Sudbury Street, on the right when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 136 Blackstone Street, Boston MA 02113, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Historic Boston. It is also in the American Northeast,

in New England,

and on the Eastern Seaboard. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once one of the original Thirteen Colonies.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Millstone from South Mill (here, next to this marker); Zipporah Potter Atkins (within shouting distance of this marker); Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy Greenway (within shouting distance of this marker); Boston Timeline (within shouting distance

Mill Creek Marker and millstone found during 1999 archeological dig image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, November 6, 2026

2. Mill Creek Marker and millstone found during 1999 archeological dig

of this marker); The Bell-in-Hand (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Ebenezer Hancock House (about 400 feet away); a different marker also named Boston Timeline (about 400 feet away); Proclamation of the "Bells" Journey (about 400 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Boston.

More about this marker. This marker stands next to a millstone that was found during the 1999 archeological work described on this marker. Another historical marker immediately behind this one is about the millstone.

Credits. This page was last revised on November 11, 2026. It was originally submitted on November 11, 2026, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. This page has been viewed 7 times since then. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on November 11, 2026, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.