This past week I took my first trip to Boston. The entire GT sales team at the Global Business Travel Association annual convention. The event brings thousands and thousands of industry people into the city. I was so glad to participate and meet some great movers and shakers of the travel world.

Between work, some of the team and I set out to explore Boston as much as we could, given our busy schedule. The city is beautiful and so rich with history — it left me in awe (especially compared to the newer city of Los Angeles that I call home). While walking near Tremont Street and Beacon Street, I began to see a similar theme — the city is a city of firsts. Bostonians were proud to be the first to open a public school, established in 1635. You can find it on School Street (very original). Walking further on Beacon, I noticed another sign stating Boston Common is the first public park in America, dating back to 1634. We kept walking down the street to see what other firsts we might discover. Of course, I saw a building stating “ONE.” I know this office building was not the first one ever built, but I started to joke that Boston is a city that boasts being the first. Here is a list to get the gist of my joke:

1704 — The first regularly-issued American newspaper, The Boston News-Letter, is published.
1716 — The first American lighthouse is built in Boston Harbor.
1780 — The first State Constitution is created.
1838 — Boston becomes the first city to establish its own police department.
1875 — The first American Christmas card is printed by Louis Prang.
1876 — The first telephone is demonstrated by Alexander Graham Bell.
1903 — The first modern World Series is played in Major League Baseball as the Boston Americans beat the Pittsburgh Pirates.

The list goes on and on, but it got me thinking . . . what are the firsts in my city? What about yours?

— Carly Allen, vice president