Custom House Tower observation history

The Custom House Tower on McKinley Square was completed in 1915 (tower added 1915) and historically included an observation area near its top that provided panoramic views of Boston Harbor and the Financial District. The 496-foot tower was Boston's tallest building for many decades and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. In the 1990s the building was converted to a Marriott Vacation Club property; the tower remains a prominent vertical landmark used for city views and building monitoring functions.