Downtown Crossing

For the subway station below the district, see Downtown Crossing (MBTA station).

42°21′20″N 71°03′38″W / 42.355450°N 71.060460°W / 42.355450; -71.060460

Washington Street, Downtown Crossing
Intersection of Washington Street, Summer Street and Winter Street, 1857 (engraving by Winslow Homer
Downtown Crossing c. 1910
Washington Street seen from Summer Street intersection, with Old South Meeting House visible in background

Downtown Crossing is a shopping district within downtown Boston, Massachusetts, located east of Boston Common, west of the Financial District, south of Government Center, and north of Chinatown and the old Combat Zone. It features large department stores as well as restaurants, souvenir sellers, general retail establishments, and street vendors. The Downtown Crossing MBTA station lies in the center of the district.

The district gets its name from the intersection of Washington Street with Winter and Summer Streets. Historically, the district was anchored by two department stores, Jordan Marsh and Filene's which stood opposite each other at the intersection. While both stores have since been bought by other chains and no longer exist, the district continues to be a major pedestrian shopping area, with the area of Washington, Winter, and Summer streets surrounding the intersection closed to most vehicular traffic; pedestrians may walk freely in the street.