This seminar concentrates on the Beacon Hill neighborhood. We will identify the historic district and talk about our rich and sometimes amusing traditions. We will examine homes, public buildings, and institutions. We will look the individuals who built these houses, their construction, and how the buildings have been used through the years. We will learn about some of the interesting people who have inhabited them: important artists, government officials, leading business leaders, jurists, and national leaders. We may also go outside to look at back alleys and backyards, and learn about the garden movement — both private and public — and its connection to Beacon Hill, Mount Auburn Cemetery, the Boston Public Garden, and the Beacon Hill Garden Club. Outside experts will participate in some of the programs. Be prepared to visit sites wearing good walking shoes and perhaps even carrying an umbrella.