The Waterworks Museum is an off-the-beaten-path destination that ties together science, history, and sustainability. Housed in a grand 19th-century pumping station by the Chestnut Hill Reservoir, the museum is a preserved piece of Boston’s engineering history - steam engines that pumped millions of gallons of freshwater into Boston until the mid 1970's. The highlight of your visit will be the Great Engines Hall, a set of historic engineering monuments. A cycling trip to the Waterworks Museum is in the spirit of the museum's legacy, connecting environmental sustainability, public health, and civil engineering. As you bike through Boston’s neighborhoods and past key water infrastructure sites, you'll experience firsthand the systems that powered Boston.

This ride begins at Kenmore Square because it's such a recognizable spot in Boston. With landmarks like Fenway Park and the MGM Music Hall right around the corner, it feels like a fun and energetic place to kick things off. From there, follow Commonwealth Ave heading west. There's a nice dedicated bike lane for a good stretch, which made the beginning of the ride feel smooth and safe. Once at Brighton Ave, though, things changed a bit. The bike lane turns into a shared bike/bus lane, and you have to stay alert— cars occassionally veer into the bus lane.

The route we're proposing is very flat, and definitely less tiring than other options. Watch out for the train track crossing right before reaching the museum, which can be a little jarring if you're not expecting it. During the final stretch, you'll ride alongside Chestnut Hill Reservoir which is super scenic and is a nice breather. The return trip via Beacon Street is mostly downhill, and very relaxing. You'll pass through Coolidge Corner on the return too—it’s a great area with lots of local cafes and places to grab a quick snack. Also, there are bike racks all over, so if you want to stop and hang ouut for a bit, it’s easy to lock up your bike. All in all, this ride mixes some city energy with quieter, greener pockets, and it’s just the right balance between effort and enjoyment.

The Metropolitan Waterworks Pumping Station, completed in 1887, was Boston's first major effort to provide a modern, pressurized water system for its growing population. The museum's Romanesque architecture and massive steam-powered pumping engines illustrate a time when engineering was as much art as utility. Operated until the 1970s, the station was eventually preserved and transformed into a museum, showcasing original machinery and tracing the history of Boston’s water delivery system.

Today, the Waterworks Museum is a monument to civic innovation and a reminder of how infrastructure underpins public health and urban growth.

You can elect to begin your ride at the Blue Bike station in Kenmore Square, in front of McDonalds and across the street from Hotel Buckminster. If you do, consider checking out Fenway Park, home of the Boston Red Sox, as an optional excursion on this route.

The Commonwealth Ave off-road bike lanes (which were completed in 2019 to much fanfare) pass through Boston University's Campus.

Here's what the shared bike/bus lane on Brighton Ave looks like these days:

This site is really more of an engineering museum than a traditional scientific laboratory. Nonetheless, the sanitation processes implemented at the facilities were influenced by cutting-edge contemporary scientists (more info on this point to follow!)

The highlight of your visit will be the Great Engines Hall, a room of 3-story-tall engineering monuments. Other small interactive exhibits are fun for all ages.