Faneuil Hall

Written by Julie Greiner

Faneuil Hall is located in the center of downtown Boston. Faneuil Hall Marketplace is the nation's premier urban marketplace. The historic past is swirled with the present, with over 70 shops, 14 full service restaurants, 40 food stalls and Boston's popular comedy nightclub. Across the street from Boston's waterfront, the Marketplace is comprised of three restored 19th century buildings. A blend of Neoclassic and Greek Revival architecture, the complex is a beautiful representation of old Boston, tastefully enhanced by urban contemporary additions. Ethnic foods, unique gifts and street performers are just a few attractions that make the cobblestone streets of Faneuil Hall Marketplace such a festive and special place. Stretching across 6.5 acres, Faneuil Hall Marketplace attracts more than 12 million visitors annually.

Shopping at Boston's Famous Market

In 1742, Boston's wealthiest merchant, Peter Faneuil, built Faneuil Hall. The edifice was home to merchants, fishermen, meat and produce sellers, and provided a platform for the country's most famous orators. It is where colonists first protested the Sugar Act in 1764 and established the doctrine of "no taxation without representation." Firebrand Samuel Adams rallied the citizens of Boston to the cause of independence from Great Britain in these hallowed Halls, and George Washington toasted the nation on its first birthday. Through the years, Faneuil Hall has played host to many impassioned speakers, from Oliver Wendall Holmes and Susan B. Anthony to Bill Clinton and Teddy Kennedy, always living up to its nickname, "The Cradle of Liberty."

The History of Faneuil Hall

Faneuil Hall was expanded in 1826 to include the Quincy Market, which was designed in the then-popular Greek Revival style and later dubbed for Boston Mayor Josiah Quincy. The market has remained a vital business hub through the 1800's, but by the

Boston TeaParty Ship & Museum

mid-1900's, the buildings had fallen into disrepair and many stood empty. The once-thriving marketplace was tagged for demolition until a committed group of Bostonians sought to preserve it in the early 1970's. Through the vision of Jim Rouse, head of The Rouse Company, Architect Benjamin Thompson and Mayor Kevin White, the dilapidated structures were revitalized, thoroughly changing the face of downtown Boston. The 1976 renovation was the first urban renewal project of its kind, one that spawned imitations in this country and abroad.

Faneuil Hall Today

Today, what is known as Faneuil Hall Marketplace is still Boston's central meeting place, offering visitors and residents alike an unparalleled urban marketplace. The unique and burgeoning array of shops, restaurants and outdoor entertainment have made it a premiere urban destination that attracts more than 12 million visitors annually. With the approach of the marketplace's 25th Anniversary.

The meeting room at Faneuil Hall still serves the people of Boston as a public meeting place. Faneuil's original Hall was intended to serve Bostonians as a market place for food on one level, and a market place for ideas on the second. Today this tradition continues.