Walking these streets it’s interesting to note that almost everything you see was built or rebuilt after the Great Chelsea Fire of 1908. You can get Mexican, tapas, Dominican, Salvadoran, Honduran, Chinese, pan-Asian, pizza and boba tea here, while the Katz Bagel Bakery (139 Park St) has been family owned and operated since 1938. Bellingham Square Historic District Source: Wangkun Jia / shutterstock Bellingham Square Historic DistrictĬhelsea’s commercial heart testifies to the diversity of the community, especially in the wide range of bakeries and eateries along Broadway and connecting streets. In its aftermath, Chelsea was reconstructed with then state-of-the-art architecture and urban planning, visible at the Bellingham Square Historic District. The first and most destructive took out 350 acres downtown, claiming 19 lives and leaving 15,000 people homeless. The city’s history has been marked by two immense fires, in 19. Diverse and densely populated, this near north suburb of Boston is home to just over 40,000 people and was historically known for its large Jewish community and naval hospital.Ĭhelsea is a matter of minutes from downtown Boston, while the sweeping Revere Beach and the ultramodern Encore Boston Harbor Casino resort are even closer.