Boston African American National Historic Site is a National Historic Site in Massachusetts. This guide combines the park's official information with computed sunrise, sunset and Milky Way times, satellite climate data and 1 photo locations inside or next to the park.
Best photo spots in Boston African American
We matched 1 named overlooks, waterfalls, peaks and other features to Boston African American. Each has its own page with sun directions and a monthly golden hour table.
Botanical Gardens (1)
Sunrise, sunset & golden hour
At Boston African American the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 57° (ENE) at the June solstice and 122° (ESE) in late December. Sunset moves from 304° (WNW) in June to 238° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 71° in summer but only 24° in winter.
| Month (15th) | Sunrise | Golden hour ends | Golden hour starts | Sunset | Sunset az. | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 7:12 AM | 7:55 AM | 3:53 PM | 4:37 PM | 242° | 9h 25m |
| February | 6:42 AM | 7:21 AM | 4:37 PM | 5:17 PM | 254° | 10h 35m |
| March | 6:57 AM | 7:34 AM | 6:14 PM | 6:51 PM | 268° | 11h 54m |
| April | 6:04 AM | 6:42 AM | 6:48 PM | 7:26 PM | 284° | 13h 22m |
| May | 5:24 AM | 6:04 AM | 7:19 PM | 7:59 PM | 297° | 14h 35m |
| June | 5:08 AM | 5:50 AM | 7:41 PM | 8:24 PM | 303° | 15h 16m |
| July | 5:21 AM | 6:03 AM | 7:39 PM | 8:20 PM | 301° | 14h 59m |
| August | 5:52 AM | 6:31 AM | 7:09 PM | 7:47 PM | 290° | 13h 55m |
| September | 6:25 AM | 7:02 AM | 6:19 PM | 6:56 PM | 275° | 12h 31m |
| October | 6:58 AM | 7:36 AM | 5:26 PM | 6:04 PM | 259° | 11h 06m |
| November | 6:36 AM | 7:18 AM | 3:42 PM | 4:24 PM | 246° | 9h 48m |
| December | 7:07 AM | 7:53 AM | 3:28 PM | 4:13 PM | 239° | 9h 06m |
Computed for the park's reference point (42.3591, -71.0676); large parks span several minutes of difference.
Milky Way & dark skies
From Boston African American, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from March through September. June gives the longest window (about 4.2 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 19° above the southern horizon. Our light-pollution model puts the sky at about Bortle 9 (inner-city sky), so expect visible sky glow; drive away from towns for better results.
| Month | Core visible (15th) | Hours | Max altitude |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| February | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| March | 4:24 AM – 5:14 AM | 0.8 | 15° |
| April | 2:16 AM – 4:16 AM | 2.0 | 18° |
| May | 12:26 AM – 3:16 AM | 2.8 | 19° |
| June | 10:36 PM – 2:46 AM | 4.2 | 19° |
| July | 10:26 PM – 1:26 AM | 3.0 | 19° |
| August | 9:34 PM – 11:24 PM | 1.8 | 18° |
| September | 8:31 PM – 9:21 PM | 0.8 | 15° |
| October | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| November | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| December | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
9 Estimated Bortle 9 — Inner-city sky. Only the Moon, planets and a few bright stars are visible.
Weather & best time to visit
Boston African American National Historic Site is located in downtown Boston which can see extreme cold in the winter months, as well as extreme heat and humidity throughout the summer months. Walking tours may be cancelled during severe heat and/or weather events.
Weather overview: National Park Service.
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show September as the clearest month (about 51% average cloud cover) and May as the cloudiest (64%). July is the warmest month and January the coldest, which matters for gear, snow access and how long batteries last at night.
Average cloud cover (%)
Average high (°F)
Photography permits, drones & fees
Permits. Under federal law (54 U.S.C. 100905), still photography in National Park Service areas needs a permit only when it (1) takes place where members of the public are not allowed, (2) uses models, sets or props that are not part of the location's natural or cultural resources or administrative facilities, or (3) would cause the park to incur additional administrative costs to monitor the activity. Ordinary visitor and most landscape photography needs no permit. Commercial filming rules are separate and have changed in recent years — confirm current requirements with the park before a paid shoot.
Drones. Launching, landing or operating unmanned aircraft (drones) is prohibited in National Park Service units under a 2014 Superintendent's closure (36 CFR 1.5), except where a park has issued specific written approval. Flying from outside the boundary over park land can also violate park rules and disturb wildlife.
Getting there
Site administrative offices are located at Faneuil Hall and the Charlestown Navy Yard. Seasonal ranger programs begin at either the Robert Gould Shaw Memorial on Beacon Street, or at the Museum of African American History at 46 Joy Street on Beacon Hill.
Directions: National Park Service.
Activities
- Guided Tours
- Self-Guided Tours - Walking
- Junior Ranger Program
- Museum Exhibits
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