Nick Collins: Preserving History & Heritage

By Irish Boston Tourism Newsroom

As state senator for the First Suffolk District of Massachusetts, South Boston’s Nick Collins is a leading advocate of preserving local history and heritage around the city. Growing up in Southie, it is second nature to appreciate both.

The First Suffolk Senate District is one of Boston’s most diverse districts and includes South Boston and Seaport and parts of downtown Boston, Chinatown, South End, Dorchester, Mattapan and Roxbury.

This past season, Senator Collins has been crisscrossing the district, supporting Lunar New Year celebrations in Chinatown and Dominican Independence Day events in Dorchester, promoting the legacy of former State Representative Mel King in the South End and presiding over St. Patrick’s Day and Evacuation Day festivities in South Boston.

“I feel fortunate to represent a district where so many cultures are not only present, but actively shared and celebrated, and where opportunities like this allow us all to learn from and appreciate one another,” he said recently at a performance by the Gund Kwok Asian Women’s Lion & Dragon Dance Troupe in Fields Corner.

As part of the America 250 celebrations this year, Senator Collins was appointed to the Massachusetts Commission on the 250th Anniversary of the American Revolution. Collins also served as General Chairman of the Evacuation Day 250 ceremonies at Dorchester Heights on March 17, working closely with Boston National Historical Park and the South Boston Citizens’ Association.

In addition, he traveled to Great Barrington and Ticonderoga to commemorate the 250th anniversary of Henry Knox’s Noble Train of Artillery, which helped bring about the end of the Siege of Boston in 1776.

Collins supports numerous initiatives throughout the city that strengthen Boston’s ethnic heritage traditions, such as the Caribbean Carnival Festival in Franklin Park, the Boston Women’s Heritage Trail project at Cedar Grove Cemetery and the expansion of the Boston Irish Heritage Trail in downtown and the neighborhoods. He is also advocating for a Vietnamese Diaspora Memorial at Towne Field in Dorchester.

A longtime advocate for military and first-responder causes, Senator Collins has supported projects such as the Massachusetts Law Enforcement Memorial at Ashburton Park, the Fallen Heroes Memorial in Seaport and the Medal of Honor Park in South Boston. In April, he helped unveil a stunning new painting at the State House recognizing Massachusetts as the birthplace of the United States Coast Guard.

Collins is following in the footsteps of South Boston’s US Congressman Joe Moakley, a legendary champion of Boston’s historical preservation community. Moakley helped preserve the Charlestown Navy Yard and USS Constitution; establish Boston National Heritage Park; create the Black Heritage Trail and underwrite repairs along the Freedom Trail.

Like Congressman Moakley, Senator Collins understands that preserving Boston’s heritage not only benefits the local economy through tourism and educational visits, but it also helps strengthen community identity and cohesion. And it underscores Boston’s place as a city proud of its history, heritage and people.