Faneuil Hall

The Cradle of Liberty

Boston National Historical Park
With its gilded grasshopper weathervane and red-brick Georgian exterior, historic Faneuil Hall Marketplace looks as pristinely elegant as any “Cradle of Liberty” should. It was on the second floor of the original building that patriots often rallied and railed against British oppression. Completed in 1742, Faneuil Hall was rebuilt after it burned down in 1761. Beginning in 1763, patriot Sam Adams and his colleagues ushered in the greatest period of town meetings in Boston history in this hall, leading cries of protest against the imposition of taxes on the colonies. In 1805-06, Boston had the hall’s size doubled to its present proportions, hiring celebrated architect Charles Bulfinch to oversee the project. Illustrious speakers here have included Susan B. Anthony, Frederick Douglass, and John F. Kennedy.

Additional Information

Visit the website here: http://www.nps.gov/bost/historyculture/fh.htm

The New Faneuil Hall Visitors Center

This colonial center of community information and trade continues its legacy in a modern way. The new Faneuil Hall Visitor Center serves as a gateway to all of Massachusetts National Parks. Displays and on-site Park Rangers integrate current technologies and design while remaining faithful to the traditional national park experience that travelers have come to know and love, giving visitors from all over the globe the information they need to make the most of their time in Boston and Massachusetts.