Our Marathon Blog

Our Marathon is a crowd-sourced collection of pictures, videos, stories, and social media related to the 2013 Boston Marathon. A community project hosted at Northeastern University We're reaching out to Tumblr to hear your stories, show excerpts of our ongoing collection, and share the latest news and events from Our Marathon staff. Share your stories, responses, images, and social media by visiting: OUR MARATHON

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The inscription on the top left of the banner reads: "In 1996 my wife Jane was one of 40,000 runners at the 100th Boston Marathon. It would be easier to spot the family, so I made 2 banners. They have stayed in my studio for 18 years. Now they have a purpose. I believe one day Jane Richard who lost her brother and her leg will one day run the Boston Marathon in his honor and in memory of all those affected by a senseless act. I hope Jane and all those affected will see this banner and when you run Boston you will see the second banner just like it and know that those who signed it will never forget the events of 4-15-2013 and we will always support you."

Do you have photos or banners to share? Share your story here. 

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“Our Marathon” is a crowd-sourced archive of pictures, videos, stories, and even social media related to the Boston Marathon; the bombing on April 15, 2013; the subsequent search, capture, and trial of the individuals who planted the bombs; and the city’s healing process. “Our Marathon” will allow the public to explore not only what happened during the event, but also how the event was experienced by Bostonians, visitors to the city, and those many members of the “Boston diaspora” who were far away but deeply engaged in the unfolding events. 

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The image was taken at the corner of Arlington and Bolyston Streets. The memorial crosses bear the names of Krystle Campbell, Martin William Richard, Lingzi Lu, and Sean Collier. 

View more images from Public Submissions here. 

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A card to the City of Boston from teenagers in San Antonio, TX

Share your story here. 

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I was off work because of the state holiday, at home at putting the final touches on a blog post about some forgotten comic book. I disconnect from the grid while I'm writing, so I didn't know anything had happened until my dad called around 3:00 PM. "Turn on the news, Andy. Some big shit is going down at the finish line." I watched the live feed on NECN while trying to reach my wife on her cell. She was nowhere near the site, but I had an urgent need to tell her about it, to discuss it with the one person I love most in the world. In the meantime, my social media channels were getting jammed by out-of-state friends who made the all too human assumption that an entire region equals a few city blocks. "I'm fine," I responded. "You can worry when you hear something went horrible on Columbia Point [where I work]." My wife finally arrived home and I met her in the driveway with the news. She responded as if she'd been struck. "Oh, God, no. Why?" Because I was away from my computer and TV, I missed the news about the (unrelated, as it turned out) fire at the JFK Library...on Columbia Point. I returned to another inbox full of worried emails wondering why I'd stopped responding. The rest of the week only got weirder and more terrifying from there.

Public Submissions

Add your story to the 2013 Boston Marathon public memory here. 

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A resolution passed in Alabama to honor first responders in Boston

Did your business honor the 2013 Boston Marathon survivors and first responders? Share it here. 

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Marathon Daffodils is a collaboration of nonprofit organizations, gardeners, cities and towns, businesses, and citizens interested in preserving the spirit of the Boston Marathon and Boston Strong, while embracing the tradition of celebrating the arrival of spring in Boston. Volunteers for Marathon Daffodils have planted over 100,000 daffodil bulbs along the marathon route from Hopkinton to Copley Square. These photos were taken from several of the planting sites.

Did you participate in community service to honor the 2013 Boston Marathon tragedy? Share photos and stories here. 

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Letter from Christian Brothers Academy in Syracuse, New York student to First Responders

Share your letters and notes here. 

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I was in my office on 101 Huntington Avenue facing Huntington Ave. From my location the explosions both heard like large commercial dumpsters being dropped off the back of the flatbed carrying the dumpster. (This is a sound I have heard many times.) It did sound louder than normal and when it was followed so closely by another, I questioned the nature of the sound but did not have cause for concern. If not for someone in my office asking "do you know what is happening" I would not have thought twice. I looked out the window and saw people running across Huntington Ave at Belvidere Street. I assumed something happened at the Christian Science Plaza until we were able to get additional information from the news.

"Your Story": Reflections on the 2013 Marathon Gathered by GlobeLab

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The mayor of New Castle, Delaware writes to Mayor Menino to offer the support of his city. He tells of the long history of mutual aid and support between Boston and New Castle.

View more letters to the city of Boston here. 

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You're not broken, just bent. You are a survivor. Don't worry be happy. Stay Strong Boston.

A card from a Framingham, MA student from the Boston City Archive collections.

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NOTHING CAN BREAK BOSTON.

View more photos from the James Schmidt's Boston Marathon Photos collection.

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Photo of sign naming campus square in honor of M.I.T. Police Officer Sean A. Collier. submitted by James McGrath

Do you attend MIT or live in Cambridge? Share your story here. 

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Underground. On the Green line walking back from Boylston Street. Got on at Hynes Convention Center and arrived at Park Street where we were evacuated in a very efficient manner. We weren't told what was going on but after being evacuated there were many text messages and missed phone calls asking if we were ok. Glad we decided to walk backwards towards Hynes rather than toward Copley Station otherwise we would have been right in the middle of it.

"Your Story": Reflections on the 2013 Marathon Gathered by GlobeLab

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One Fund banner at Quincy Market

Did you take photos of banners or signs in support of the One Fund around the city? Around your hometown? Share them here. 

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Just before the first bomb went off I bumped into a lady with a buggy (stroller), I turned and excused myself and she looked at me in disgust and complained that I had crushed a sunflower that was on top of her buggy. I remember thinking to myself "big deal! Worse things happen!" As I looked at this lady in bewilderment the first bomb went off ahead of us. I froze on the spot staring ahead at the white smoke billowing towards us. There seemed to me some confusion about what happened, runners were cheering obviously believing it was a cannon or something, my boyfriend was trying to move me while he shouted "bomb! That was a bomb! We have to move!" Time stopped still for me while I watched a runner in a burger suit make his way towards the finish line. When the second bomb went off there was no doubt in my mind it was a bomb but I was still frozen in my spot. My boyfriend grabbed me and rushed me down the alley.

sarahosullivan91 in public submissions

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Highlighting Neatline

Over the summer Our Marathon interns utilized Neatline to construct interactive exhibits from the unique content of the archive. 

Do you have ideas for other exhibits? What do you like or dislike about Our City and One Boston?

Have you designed an exhibit regarding the Marathon bombings? 

Share your story here.