Under Boston · STOP 03 · Government Center
The Kettle That Was Measured by the City
Over a storefront in Government Center hangs a gold kettle made in 1873. On New Year's Day 1875 boys climbed out of it, then a tall man, and then the city's sealer of weights and measures filled it five gallons at a time to settle a guessing contest. His figure is still lettered on the side. Nobody has published what makes it steam.
This is stop 3 of Under Boston. Walk it - any two stops are free.
The plate
PLATE 03
Collected on site
63 Court St, Boston, MA 02108
Directions
Argue about it
What actually makes the kettle steam?
Both sides, with their sources, are on the story card in the app.
Near Government Center · Near State · Near Bowdoin · Near Downtown Crossing · Near Haymarket · Near Park Street
Sources (8)
- Behind the lens: Boston tea potGoverning · n.d.
- The story behind the giant tea kettle in Government CenterBoston.com (Wickedpedia) · 2023-11-28
- Starbucks is leaving, but Government Center's steaming kettle will stayBoston.com · 2025-09-29
- Boston's Giant Steaming Tea KettleClio (citing Celebrate Boston; Boston.com 2016; Boston Globe 2016) · n.d.
- Government Center's Golden Teapot Is Back, Buffed, and Belching SteamBoston Magazine · 2016-10-07
- Golden Teapot Landmark In Government Center Removed For RepairsCBS Boston · 2016-05-09
- Golden kettle returns to Government CenterWHDH 7News · 2016-10-06
- NIST Guide to the SI, Appendix B.9: Factors for units listed by kind of quantityNational Institute of Standards and Technology (SP 811) · accessed 2026-10-11