Few People Know The Story Behind This Iconic Boston Fixture
By Kim Falchek|Published February 20, 2024
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Kim Falchek
Author
Kim Falchek has been exploring the towns, trails, and hidden gems of Massachusetts since her college days in Boston. When not writing, Kim enjoys photography, going on road trips, and spending time at the beach. Kim has previously been a contributing writer for LA Family Travel, Global Munchkins, and Latched Mama. She currently lives in Salem, Massachusetts where she and her family embrace all things Halloween!
The historic city of Boston is filled with hundreds of interesting landmarks, statues, and monuments. If you are a tourist, you may stop to read the written words on the markers or pause to take a close-up look at the statues. However, many of us locals pass by these fixtures time and time again without thinking twice about what they represent. Every marker is a link to the city’s past and each one has its own special story to tell. The steaming tea kettle in Boston’s Government Center is one landmark that I have always wondered about.
If you have ever walked through the busy streets of Government Center, you may have looked up and seen this massive golden tea kettle hanging from a store-top roof. You may even have witnessed it blow out steam from its spout. Did you know that the tea kettle has been a fixture in the city for over 150 years? But how did it get here and why?
We all know that tea is a beverage that played a significant role in Massachusetts' history. At first glance, you may think that the steaming tea kettle is a monument used to commemorate the Boston Tea Party. However, this is not the case.
You will have to travel to the Boston Tea Party Museum on Griffin’s Wharf to learn more about that story.
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The saga behind the steaming tea kettle is one that you probably didn’t learn about in school. The kettle was built in 1873 by coppersmiths Hicks and Badger. It originally hung outside of the Oriental Tea Company shop in what was once known as Scollay Square (now Government Center).
Even in the late 1800s, businesses were looking for creative ways to advertise their stores and attract customers. As if having a giant teapot hanging several feet above street level wasn’t eye-catching enough, in 1875, the owners of the Oriental Tea Company came up with a contest to attract even more attention to the store. Participants purchased tickets and wagered guesses on the weight of the teapot.
There was also an unusual second guess to be made. Prizes would be awarded to anyone who could correctly figure out how many people could fit inside the kettle. What would your guess be?
The kettle was removed from the building and thousands of people came out to witness the event. To the delight of the massive crowd, eight boys and one very tall gentleman popped out of the kettle one at a time. Then it was time for the kettle to be weighed.
The weight, taken by Boston’s official sealer of weights and measures, came up at 277 gallons, two quarts, one pint, and three gills (an old liquid weight measurement). This official weight was later inscribed on the outside of the teapot.
The winners of the contest enjoyed prizes of tea and the Oriental Tea Company delighted the palates of local Bostonians until 1966, when the shop closed its doors as the city redeveloped the declining area.
The store's owner soon opened a new store not far from the original location. He named the shop the Steaming Kettle Coffee Shop and brought the now iconic kettle with him.
The shop has changed hands several times since the move, but the kettle has remained a fixture throughout the years. In 2016, it sustained some damage from an accident, and it was briefly removed and repaired.
The steaming kettle's home is now a popular Starbucks cafe. The company has named it their “Steaming Kettle” location.
Next time you are in the area, be sure to stop in for a great coffee and a bit of history. If you are lucky, you will catch the pot spouting steam while you are there!
