On April 19, 1897, the first Boston Marathon was held, making it the oldest annually contested marathon in the world. The event was inspired by the success of the marathon at the first modern Olympic Games in Athens, Greece, the previous year.

The race was organized by the Boston Athletic Association (BAA) and originally measured 24.5 miles, starting from Metcalf's Mill in Ashland and finishing at the Irvington Oval in Boston. The course was later adjusted to its current distance of 26.2 miles in 1924, to conform with the Olympic standard.

In that inaugural race, a field of 15 runners participated, with John J. McDermott of New York emerging as the winner with a time of 2:55:10. The runner-up was James J. Kiernan of Connecticut, finishing in 3:00:30, and the third-place finisher was Canadian runner Ronald J. MacDonald, clocking in at 3:04:20.

The Boston Marathon has since become one of the most prestigious and well-known marathons in the world, attracting elite runners and enthusiastic amateurs from across the globe. The race has witnessed numerous historic moments, such as Roberta Gibb becoming the first woman to unofficially run the marathon in 1966, and Kathrine Switzer being the first woman to officially enter and complete the race in 1967, paving the way for increased female participation in the sport.

Today, the Boston Marathon continues to be a celebrated event, not only for its rich history and competitive spirit but also for its symbolism of human resilience and determination.