Explore Boston Marathon’s Iconic Landmarks: A Comprehensive Guide

The Boston Marathon has run continuously since 1897. The 26.2-mile course links Hopkinton to Boylston Street. Along the route, monuments and rituals highlight local history and resilience.

Start line and Team Hoyt

Runners begin at Hopkinton Town Common. A bronze statue honors Team Hoyt near the start. Dick and Rick Hoyt were fixtures at the race for 32 years.

Dick Hoyt died in March 2021 at 80. Rick, who lived with cerebral palsy, died two years later at 61. The pair completed more than a thousand races worldwide.

Bobbi Gibb’s tribute

A new life-size statue of Bobbi Gibb stands in Hopkinton. It sits at Hayden Rowe Street and Main Street.

Gibb was the first woman to run the race. She ran three Boston Marathons after entering the men-only field. The statue shows her moving toward Boylston Street and the finish.

Spencer and the marathon dog tradition

Spencer the golden retriever emerged as a symbol after the 2013 finish-line bombings. A viral image showed him carrying twin “Boston Strong” flags.

Spencer became the official marathon dog in 2022. He died at 13 the following year. A statue in Ashland honors him. Owner Richard Powers introduced a successor named Jimmy to continue the tradition on April 20.

Wellesley College’s scream tunnel

At mile 13, runners pass the famous scream tunnel on Route 135. Wellesley students cheer, hold signs, and sometimes offer kisses to runners.

The practice dates back to early marathons. It grew more prominent after women were allowed to race. The campus famously erupted when Bobbi Gibb ran past in 1966.

Newton: Firehouse turn and the hills

Just past mile 17 sits the Firehouse turn at the Newton Fire Station. The sharp corner leads into a four-mile stretch known as the Newton Hills.

This section is strategically decisive. The Newton Firefighters Children Fund operates from the station and raises money for children of fallen firefighters.

Johnny Kelley and Heartbreak Hill

Johnny Kelley ran the Boston Marathon more than any other competitor. He started 61 times and finished 58 races.

Two statues in Newton depict Kelley at 27 and at 84. He died in 2004 at 97. Remarkably, his running career earned no prize money, though he collected various tokens.

Heartbreak Hill, at mile 20, carries the nickname Kelley popularized after a difficult 1936 climb. That year Ellison “Tarzan” Brown, a two-time winner from the Narragansett tribe, overtook Kelley.

The final miles and finish

Kenmore Square marks roughly one mile remaining. Fans gather beneath the Citgo sign and near Fenway Park. The Red Sox play a morning game on Patriots’ Day, a long-standing tradition.

Runners make two final turns. The call goes: “Right on Hereford, Left on Boylston.” That last stretch can feel longer than it appears. The Boylston finish remains an emotional end to a historic course.