"When you find your career, it tends to be an amalgamation of things as opposed to a finely focused event." Read about the successful maker's path and insights of John Mulligan CF '02, who now runs the open-concept work space Lawrence Lin Makerspace at UMASS Lowell.

The prestigious Harvard Library has a top-notch team of book and document conservators on staff, including NBSS Bookbinding graduates Irina Gorstein BB '98 and Anne McLain BB '10. "Books sometimes come to us all but falling apart," says Anne. "To see the books leave sound and usable for patrons again gives you great satisfaction."

The original front door of the long-gone Hancock Mansion on Beacon Hill recently emerged from storage as the Bostonian Society, its steward, seeks to exhibit the historic artifact at the Old State House. Students from our Preservation Carpentry program have been commissioned to build a full-scale reproduction of the fine Georgian home's opulent surrounding entryway, which will go on exhibit in the Old State House in June 2018.

"There's a reason why buildings from the 18th & 19th centuries are still standing," says Preservation Carpentry Department Head Steven O'Shaughnessy PC '99. Watch a video of Steven describing how our program trains "a keen eye to distinguish between the quality of materials, even before you begin the craftsmanship part of things."

Boston is best known for its famous baked beans, Fenway Park, The Boston Marathon, and of course for the bar from Cheers, but dig a little deeper below the surface and you'll find a surprising wealth of things that make Boston one of the best cities in America—and the world. The city and surrounding region consistently ranks at the top of "best of" lists again and again. Here are 8 reasons why.