This puzzle starts just like normal, with regular pieces. This one makes a rectangular map of Boston, depicting it as it appeared in the early 1800s. From working this part of the puzzle, we could better appreciate the single entrance to the Boston Peninsula, and we could better understand the challenges of defending Boston against a superior British Navy during the American Revolution.
After the first layer was complete, I unpacked the next layer - a bunch of foam pieces that go on top of the original map. This layer depicts Boston in the 21st century, and it shows how different the coastlines are today. Much of the Charles River and other waterways have now been constrained and controlled. The Boston Neck has been expanded to increase the land area of the city. I liked seeing parts of the first map peeking through the blank spots of the foam map.
We notice how virtually all of the farmland has changed to an urban setting. Highways have filled in from various directions, and it's easy to imagine the increase in traffic. If you look at these pictures, you will notice white spots where many of the modern buildings have been added through the years.
Next it was time to construct the remaining two D's. A poster in the puzzle box shows pictures of the plastic buildings that are included with the puzzle. I used the poster to install the buildings in the order that they were constructed in the city. In this way, not only was height added to the puzzle, but also that fourth dimension of time.
We could see Boston's development through time. The 4D puzzle was fun to put together, but it felt different than puzzles I've worked in the past. It makes a nice display to help with studies of Boston, Massachusetts, and just makes me want to visit the historic city even more than before. Here is the site of the Boston Massacre, the Boston Tea Party, and the Battle of Bunker Hill. Here is the major site in the conception of the United States.
We notice how virtually all of the farmland has changed to an urban setting. Highways have filled in from various directions, and it's easy to imagine the increase in traffic. If you look at these pictures, you will notice white spots where many of the modern buildings have been added through the years.
Next it was time to construct the remaining two D's. A poster in the puzzle box shows pictures of the plastic buildings that are included with the puzzle. I used the poster to install the buildings in the order that they were constructed in the city. In this way, not only was height added to the puzzle, but also that fourth dimension of time.
We could see Boston's development through time. The 4D puzzle was fun to put together, but it felt different than puzzles I've worked in the past. It makes a nice display to help with studies of Boston, Massachusetts, and just makes me want to visit the historic city even more than before. Here is the site of the Boston Massacre, the Boston Tea Party, and the Battle of Bunker Hill. Here is the major site in the conception of the United States.
