A lift crane includes a carbody; ground engaging members elevating the carbody off the ground; a rotating bed rotatably connected to the carbody; a boom pivotally mounted at a first end to the rotating bed with a load hoist line extending adjacent a second end of the boom; a boom hoist mechanism that can be used to change the angle of the boom relative to the rotating bed during crane operation; and a boom raising assist structure connected to the boom. The boom raising assist structure preferably includes at least one ground engaging member in contact with the ground; and a boom elevating member extending between the assist structure ground engaging member and the boom. The boom elevating member supports at least a part of the weight of the boom.