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Faneuil Hall Boston History Faneuil
Hall
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Faneuil Hall History Courtesy of Wikipedia
Faneuil
Hall Marketplace is actually four great places in one location —
Faneuil Hall, Quincy Market, North Market and South Market, all set
around a cobblestone promenade where jugglers, magicians and
musicians entertain the passers-by. So by all means, stroll, shop,
eat, laugh, wander, wonder and explore it all.
History
In 1742,
Boston’s wealthiest merchant, Peter Faneuil, as a gift to the city,
built Faneuil Hall. The edifice was home to merchants, fishermen,
and 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 the
hallowed Hall, and George Washington toasted the nation there 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 Ted Kennedy, always living up to its
nickname, "The Cradle of Liberty."
To better
accommodate the merchants and shoppers,
Faneuil Hall was expanded in
1826 to include Quincy Market, which was designed in the
then-popular Greek Revival style and later dubbed for Boston Mayor
Josiah Quincy. The market remained a vital business hub throughout
the 1800's; but by the 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,
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.
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 18 million visitors annually.
THE FREEDOM
TRAIL
-Faneuil Hall
A Boston National Historical Park
cooperating site.
This
old market building, first built in 1742, sits at the
site of the old town dock. Town meetings, held here
between 1764 and 1774, heard Samuel Adams and others
lead cries of protest against the imposition of taxes on
the colonies.
The building was enlarged in 1806.
Frederick Douglass, William Lloyd Garrison, and Lucy
Stone brought their struggles for freedom here in the
19th century. Market stalls on the first floor service
shoppers much as they did in Paul Revere's day. |
Faneuil Hall
1742 & 1762 John Smibert
/ 1805 Charles Bulfinch
Peter
Faneuil (1700-1743) had gained his wealth the old fashioned way, he
inherited it from his uncle Andrew.
In the early 18th century Boston lacked
a central marketplace.
Pushcart vendors circulated through the town, offering
limited assortments of food on their own schedules and terms. To benefit
the town Faneuil offered to build and donate to the city its first market.
Food vendors vigorously opposed the gift, which the town meeting accepted
voting 367 to 360.
Besides being a source of wealth and trade, the Atlantic Ocean was the Boston's
dump of choice for its various wastes, excess materials from building, and
debris from fires which often razed large tracts of the city. Periodically
this mess would be filled over, and built upon as new land. Such was the
case with Faneuil hall was built at the water's edge in 1742.
After just nineteen years the hall burnt, but was speedily rebuilt through
a public lottery. In 1762 Faneuil Hall housed the first shouts of colonial
rebellion.
Samuel Adams, James Otis, and Dr. Joseph Warren stirred opposition,
which was followed throughout the colonies, and galvanized resistance to
colonial rule.
By 1805 Smibert's
Faneuil Hall was no longer large
enough to serve the city. The renowned Charles Bulfinch, who by then had
already completed the new
State
House, was chosen to expand the hall.
In
a brilliant design, Bulfinch doubled the building's height and width, and
so kept intact walls from the earlier building. Instead of being three bays
across, it became seven. A third floor was added, and the building's cupola
which had been
centered, was moved to the east end, as seen to the left. |
Faneuil Hall History & Faneuil Hall Tourism
Information Faneuil Hall Hours of Operation
Faneuil Hall/Quincy Market
bordered by Clinton, Chatham and Commercial
Streets
Downtown Boston MA
(617) 523-1300
Summary: Although some Bostonians sniff
that Faneuil Hall Marketplace is "too
touristy," we believe that the Faneuil Hall
experience, which combines the history, the
art, the people and the food of Boston,
offers something for everyone. We are not
surprised, therefore, that for many
visitors, a trip to "Beantown" is not
complete without a stop here.
Located in the middle of Boston, the four
buildings collectively known as Faneuil Hall
Marketplace -- Faneuil Hall, Quincy Market,
North Market and South Market -- hum with
the activity of shoppers, diners and
sightseers day and night, attracting
millions of visitors a year. The structures
are grouped around a cobblestone promenade
where jugglers, magicians, mimes and bands
continually entertain a constant influx of
passersby.
Faneuil Hall
Built in 1742 and given to the town of
Boston by French Huguenot merchant Peter
Faneuil, the Hall of the same name was a
central marketplace offering an open food
market on the first floor and a space for
open meetings on the second. A fire in 1761
destroyed the original
Faneuil Hall, but the
building was reconstructed in time to host
Samuel Adams and his compatriots as they
planned Boston's revolutionary activity; the
political maneuverings here earned Faneuil
Hall its long-standing nickname, "Cradle of
Liberty." Indeed, Faneuil Hall's historical
significance has earned it a place as one of
the 16 sites that make up Boston's famed
Freedom Trail.
By 1805, the Hall had become too small to
serve the needs of the city, and Charles
Bullfinch, one of America's foremost
architects, was commissioned to design the
expanded structure that remains virtually
unaltered. Though an 1822 city charter ended
government by town meeting, Faneuil Hall
remained the center of Boston political
debate until well into the 1900s. During the
1970s, the building underwent a major
internal renovation in order to serve the
city as it does today.
Faneuil Hall's first floor continues to
operate as a market, although most of the
stores offer handicrafts where their
predecessors sold food. We are particularly
fond of the local souvenir stores here --
they offer a wide variety of traditional
Boston memorabilia (t-shirts, magnets, viewbooks, etc.) at a reasonable price. The
foodstuffs in the booths in this area, on
the other hand, are relatively bland and
overpriced compared to offerings elsewhere
in Faneuil Marketplace.
The second floor is primarily taken up by
the Great Hall, where Boston's town meetings
were once held. Now operated by the U.S.
National Park Service in cooperation with
the Boston National Historical Park, this
beautiful, quiet room is a great place to
rest and reflect in the middle of a busy
day. We recommend staying around long enough
to hear one of the Ranger's lectures (held
every half hour) about the history of
Faneuil Hall. The talks, though not
extremely dynamic, are short and very
interesting.
History buffs should stop by the
infrequently-visited third floor, which
contains the museum and armory of the
Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company of
Massachusetts. The Company, which was begun
in 1638 for the defense of the colony, has
operated in Faneuil Hall since 1746.
Quincy Market
The 170-year-old Quincy Market, located
directly behind Faneuil Hall, served as
Boston's wholesale food distribution center
until the 1960s. Today, the food stalls
inside this stately granite building offer
culinary delights to thousands of visitors a
day, selling everything from calzones to
gourmet soup to frozen yogurt.
We consider it an absolute necessity to
visit Quincy Market on an empty stomach
because it is impossible to sniff all the
mouthwatering smells without wanting to
taste a little bit of everything. It is also
important to go with at least one friend so
that you can share and compare your dishes.
Make sure to try some of Boston's famous
seafood, like a hearty bowl of clam chowder
or a plate of fresh oysters, and choose from
pastries, fudge, candy, Italian ice or ice
cream for dessert. We recommend that you
find a table in the center atrium first or
you could wind up eating in the standing
room only section.
Surrounding the perimeter of Quincy Market
is a semi-enclosed mall where local artisans
and entrepreneurs peddle their crafts in
small carts. You can find some truly unique
gifts here, including items which can be
personalized with name tags or special
designs. In general, these mini-shops are
quite affordable as well as one-of-a-kind.
North and South Market
The North and South Market buildings, which
grace either side of Quincy Market, house
specialty stores and eateries. If you have
the time and the appetite, try a few of the
bars and restaurants tucked into North and
South Markets. In our opinion, the best
sit-down meals and drinks in the Marketplace
are found along these sidelines, which are
always less crowded than the central area.
One of the most popular restaurants, Tex Mex,
provides endless homemade salsa and chips to
complement everything from their
much-heralded fajitas to a savory gazpacho.
The Best Time to Go
Faneuil Hall is open on Sundays from noon to
6:00 PM and Monday through Saturday from
10:00 AM to 9:00 PM. Quincy Market hours
vary by store. Admission is free.
The Faneuil Hall Marketplace is almost
always crowded. We recommend that you arrive
in the early morning or late afternoon to
minimize the risk of being swept away by the
hordes of people. Visit Quincy Market first,
before mealtime throngs take over, and then
pass the lunch or dinner hour by relaxing in
Faneuil's Great Hall. The heat averse should
also note that Quincy Market's inside food
court is not air-conditioned; during the
summer it can be positively sweltering
during peak meal times, so plan accordingly.
And, of course, it is best to visit the
Marketplace on a clear day, when the outdoor
vendors and performers are in full swing.
Getting There
Located in the center of Boston,
Faneuil
Hall and Quincy Market are within walking
distance of many
subway
or "T" stops. The closest is Government
Center, which is located at the intersection
of the green and blue lines and less than a
block from the Marketplace. If you do not
mind a slightly longer walk, take the red or
green lines to Park Street and stroll
through
Boston Commons
on your way.
by Susan McWilliams |
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