Project Starboard’s Golden Thread connects public art and neighborhood history; October 24 waterfront celebration ONWARD! will feature City and State Leadership and Massport CEO Rich Davey
BOSTON, October 8, 2026 — Giant steel arches lined with golden light are becoming new landmarks in East Boston, and the starting points for exploring its stories. The “Thresholds” are part of The Golden Thread, a growing cultural trail created by Project Starboard to connect the neighborhood’s history, identity and future through public art, multilingual storytelling and shared experiences.
The new East Boston nonprofit will introduce the trail and its broader vision at ONWARD!, its first annual celebration, on Saturday, October 24, from 5 to 8 p.m. at The Tall Ship in East Boston. Massport CEO Rich Davey will attend.
The trail begins with the Threshold Series: five sculptural exhibits exploring arrival, crossing, making, adaptation and neighbors. The installations, which include walk-through steel arches, are being installed in phases at the Golden Stairs, Lewis Mall, Border Street, Central Square and the Mary Ellen Welch Greenway.
“We are building a civic institution out of the neighborhood itself,” said David Lank, founder of Project Starboard. “East Boston’s stories belong to everyone. The Golden Thread makes those stories part of everyday life and invites people to weave what comes next.”
Each Threshold pairs a physical landmark with multilingual digital storytelling accessed through QR codes. At the Golden Stairs, the Arrival Threshold explores immigration and East Boston’s role as a gateway for newcomers. At Central Square, the Adaptation Threshold connects the neighborhood’s changing shoreline with questions of coastal resilience.
“We designed the Thresholds to be restrained in form, yet rich in light and texture,” said Tim Zeitler, an architect at Zephyr Architects and an East Boston resident. “The portals center people squarely in the present moment while anchoring key moments across East Boston’s living timeline.”
The Golden Thread is Starboard’s first major undertaking, with additional installations, walking tours and cultural programming to be developed with community partners.
“I was glad to support the Golden Thread through an earmark in this year’s state budget. Just months later, this project is already paying off, building neighborhood pride tracing the arc of our community’s history,” said State Representative Adrian Madaro. “I’m excited to see more efforts to celebrate East Boston and the legacy of the successive communities that built our neighborhood and our nation.”
ONWARD! will recognize the Massachusetts Port Authority, the City of Boston and East Boston Community Development Corporation as site hosts helping bring the first five Thresholds to life.
“Massport strives to be a good neighbor and strong partner to the East Boston community,” said Rich Davey, Massport CEO. “We’re proud to be a part of The Golden Thread and to help tell the stories of the people, history and culture that makes this neighborhood so special.”
Project partners include Meridian Insights, Zephyr Architects and Empire Builders, working alongside academics, engineers, artists and community organizations.
“As a fourth-generation East Bostonian, I care deeply about our history, the stories that shaped this neighborhood and the people shaping it now,” said Jay Ruggiero of Meridian Insights, Project Starboard’s public affairs partner. “I want The Golden Thread to reflect that, with room for longstanding roots, new arrivals and a future we build together.” Ruggiero previously helped lead planning and rezoning for PLAN: East Boston and PLAN: Charlestown at the Boston Planning Department, formerly the BPDA.
Starboard’s longer-term aspirations include a harbor museum and innovation center bringing together port heritage, coastal resilience research and public learning in East Boston. The Golden Thread is the first public step toward that vision.
The October 24 celebration will include optional guided Golden Thread previews led by The Boston History Company during the opening hour, followed by a waterfront gathering and recognition program. Tickets are $75.
Starboard is seeking founding sponsors and long-term philanthropic partners to help create and steward major Golden Thread sites and expand public programming. Tickets, sponsorship information and ways to get involved are available at starboard.boston. Explore The Golden Thread at thread.boston.
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About Project Starboard
Project Starboard is the public brand name of Starboard Institute, Inc., a 501(c)(3) nonprofit based in East Boston. Through public installations, connected trails and shared experiences, it makes the neighborhood’s past, present and future visible and strengthens connections between people, place and Boston Harbor.
