Commuters in Boston might feel like they've been transported into an alternate universe where the subway sings a whole new tune—station names like "Screech from the Heavens" and "Ahhhhlington" are making waves on the Green Line. The Norman B. Leventhal Map & Education Center at the library has concluded a rather unique fundraiser, inviting supporters to rename stops on the MBTA map, sparking both amusement and nostalgia among riders and online spectators alike, as reported by Boston.com.
The center's initiative, which began late last year, allowed the highest bidders the chance to stake their claim on the station names for a spell; their motives spanned from commemorating history to unloading the day-to-day tedium of Boston's transit system all the while raising over $600 for this cartographic caper. Historical nods see Park Street christened as "Burying Ground," while the ever-present academic spirit of the area is captured with "Tulane of the North" taking over for Harvard Station and the playful "Northeastern 2: Electric Boogaloo" injecting some humor into the Symphony Station.
Housed at the central library’s "Getting Around Town" exhibition until April 27, this tongue-in-cheek subway map offers a whimsical detour from the norm. Traditional landmarks are not forgotten—Park Street and Back Bay stations elevate their adjacent sites, becoming the "Burying Ground" and "Boston Public Library Station" respectively, while areas like East Boston campaigned for their own identity with "East Boston is NOT an Airport," according to Boston.com.
Not just places, but people, too, are immortalized in transit; Government Center pays homage to political activist Mel King with a station bearing his name on this new map, the eclectic mix of creative names is meant to add a dash of color to the everyday ride, with stations humorously renamed to "Escalator to Hell" and even "RIP Christmas Tree Shops." It's a tribute to the spaces beyond their utilitarian transit roles the map emerges not merely as a tool for navigation, but as a canvas for expression—where "The Fish Store" and "Seriously, Still More BU?" tell stories as much as they move people, explained the Map & Education Center.
