About Us

The West End Museum is dedicated to collecting, preserving, and sharing the history and culture of Boston’s West End Neighborhood.

The history of the West End is one of continual change, American firsts, Boston innovations, and modern icons. The West End Museum celebrates the story of the neighborhood that led the way in Boston’s immigrant era, supporting thousands of the the world’s “huddled masses” as they found their way from North End slums to the American Dream. By then, the West End had already produced America’s first native-born architect, provided a home for free Black citizens after the Revolution, and led the way in the construction of railroads, electric street cars, and so much more. The neighborhood changed dramatically after 1950. Two decades of Urban Renewal led to the clearing of more than half the neighborhood, and reinvention in it’s modern form.

Today, we continue to collect West End artifacts, investigate stories of West End community and culture, and share those stories with the public through our programs and exhibitions.

Our Mission

The primary purpose of the West End Museum is to operate and maintain a neighborhood museum dedicated to the collection, preservation and interpretation of the history and culture of the West End of Boston. The Museum acknowledges its role as an educational institution and a trustee of significant material culture.

The West End Museum fulfills its mission by providing exhibits to the public on a regular basis, by providing access to its collections for research, by providing a resource to the West End Neighborhood for historical and cultural interests. It involves the public in its mission through outreach programming, neighborhood events, and educational programming in the school systems, thereby increasing and sustaining the public’s appreciation of an important American urban neighborhood from the seventeenth century to the present time.

Board of Directors

Officers

Lois Ascher

President

Lois is a retired Professor of Humanities at Wentworth University.

Michael Gropman

Vice President

Michael is a retired Deputy Superintendent of the Brookline Police Dept and the descendant of a displaced West Ender.

Amanda Valenta, CPA

Treasurer

Amanda is a Senior Director of Investments at Liberty Mutual.

Duane Lucia

Clerk

Duane is the CEO of Gallery East Network, Vice President of Fort point Artists Community, and a current West Ender.

Members

Leland Alexander

Leland is a Superintendent at Kaplan Construction.

Katie Burke

Katie is an Archivist at the Olmstead National Historic Site.

Bob Campanella

Bob is a retired Investment Manager at Fidelity and both a displaced and current West Ender.

Samantha DiMauro

Samantha is a Graphic Design Manager at Eataly and the descendant of a displaced West Ender.

Bruce Guarino

Bruce is Senior Docent at The West End Museum, a retired postal worker, and a displaced West Ender.

Chad Kindregan

Chad is a Partner at Beacon Law Group and a current West Ender.

Bill Kuttner

Bill is the President of the Shirley-Eustis House Association.

Andy Matteis

Andy is an Assistant Adjunct Professor at Bentley University and a former investment & finance executive.

Joe McDonald

Joe is a retired spy and both a displaced and current West Ender.

Dan McGrath

Dan is Senior Vice President, Director of Asset Management at Berkeley Investments.

Tom Palmer

Tom is the Principal at Tom Palmer Communication.

Jane Wilson

Jane is the former President of the West End Civic Association and a current West Ender.

Ex-Officio & Emeritus Members

Jim Campano (ex-officio) is President of the Old West End Housing Corporation, Editor of the West Ender, and a displaced West Ender.

Joe Greenburg (emeritus)

Richard Hartnet (emeritus)

Paul Mondello (emeritus)

Frank Privetera (emeritus)

Paul Senecal (emeritus)

Staff

Sebastian Belfanti

Executive Director

Sebastian joined the WEM in 2019 as Volunteer Program Director, was hired in 2020 as the Museum’s first paid full-time staff member and became Executive Director in 2022. He holds a MSc in geology from Vanderbilt University and is a Board Member of the Massachusetts History Alliance.

Before coming to the WEM, Sebastian was a geologist developing methods for the collection multi-dimensional chemical data from minerals he collected in Yosemite National Park. He enjoys reading, drawing, collecting books about Boston, and tabletop roleplaying games.

Bob Potenza

Archivist/Curator

Bob joined the WEM in 2021 as a Volunteer Researcher and was hired as Archivist/Curator in 2022. He holds a MA in History and Archival Science from UMass Boston.

Before coming to the WEM, Bob was a US Army aviation officer and led a product development team at IKEA. He is a proud father to four daughters, and enjoys travel, book collecting, reading, writing and cooking.

Visit

Hours

Monday:	Closed
Tuesday:	12pm – 5pm
Wednesday:	12pm – 5pm
Thursday:	12pm – 5pm
Friday:	12pm – 5pm
Saturday:	11am – 4pm
Sunday:	Closed

Admission

$10 Admission Recommended

Handicapped Accessible

Docents are available at select hours to guide small groups

Tours

Large groups at the Museum, private walking tours of the West End, and talks in person or via Zoom

Scheduling is available by appointment.

Tickets start at $10/person (minimum $40).

Schedule a Tour

Directions

Blue Line

From Bowdoin Square Station walk up Staniford Street and then take a left onto Lomasney Way

Green Line

From North Station, follow signs for Causeway Street and take a left onto Causeway, then a right onto Lomasney Way

Orange Line

From North Station, follow signs for Causeway Street and take a left onto Causeway, then a right onto Lomasney Way

Red Line

From Charles/MGH follow Charles Street north, then take a right onto Martha Road and continue onto Lomasney Way

Bus

From Haymarket follow Merrimac Street to the end, then continue straight onto Lomasney Way

Commuter Rail

From North Station, follow signs for Causeway Street and take a left onto Causeway, then a right onto Lomasney Way

Biking

Bike racks available free directly in front of the Museum
Blue Bikes are available across the street at West End Park

Driving

Garage Parking is available at the North Station Garage on Nashua Street and the Alcott on
Lomasney Way, the Museum is within sight of both garages
Lot parking is available on Merrimac Street, from the lots follow Merrimac away from Government Center then continue straight onto Lomasney Way

Where exactly is the West End?

The West End has a variety of boundaries through time, and depending upon perspective.

The modern neighborhood extends from Cambridge Street to Washington Street and from the Charles River to New Chardon Street, however, its historic Boundaries extend further.

Until the 1958 the West End extended south to Pickney Street and east to Pemberton Square, it had reached those boundaries over time, as land was filled and the area, called the New Fields, West Boston and the West End at various times, expanded.

Learn More