Mapparium Globe Boston, Massachusetts

Boston, United States, 200 Massachusetts Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, United States

Expigogo

United States, California

In the early 1930s, Boston architect Chester Lindsay Churchill was commissioned to design the new headquarters for the Christian Science Publishing Society, aiming to rival other grand newspaper headquarters of the era. Inspired by the New York Daily News building's famous gigantic spinning globe, Churchill conceived the Mapparium globe—a three-story-tall, inside-out stained-glass globe divided by a glass walkway. Originally illuminated by hundreds of lamps, it now glows with LED lights as part of the exhibit titled "How Do You See the World?"

The Mapparium globe, unchanged since 1935, accurately depicts the relative sizes and positions of continents but features outdated political boundaries. Siam and French Indochina are present, while modern nations like Israel and Indonesia are absent. The USSR is prominently displayed, and Africa appears as a large bloc of European colonies.

One of the most intriguing aspects of this exhibit is its unique acoustics. Standing at the sphere's center allows you to hear your voice in immersive 360-degree surround sound. The curved glass walls reflect rather than absorb sound waves, creating a "whispering gallery" effect where whispers from one end of the bridge can be heard clearly at the opposite end. Photography inside is prohibited, and guided tours require paid admission.