During the colonial period, Beacon Hill was mostly pastureland. There were very few homes on the hill, most notably a mansion belonging to John Hancock at the top of the hill (torn down in 1863), and John Singleton Copley’s house (torn down in 1816 and now the site of the Somerset Club). Many of the homes on Beacon Hill were built in the early 1800’s. It’s a beautiful neighborhood that has been photographed many times over the years and is a quintessential Boston neighborhood.