Built in 1742 at the site of the old town dock, Faneuil Hall was the location of town meetings in colonial Boston. It is often referred to as “the Cradle of Liberty” because it was here that Samuel Adams, James Otis and other leaders in the American Revolution made speeches against British oppression. In the nineteenth century, Faneuil Hall was expanded and used by Frederick Douglass, William Lloyd Garrison, and Lucy Stone as a part of the liberationist movement. The ground floor offers market stalls to serve shoppers, as they did in Paul Revere’s day. Historic Faneuil Hall is a part of Boston’s National Historical Park, a National Historic Landmark, and is also a stop on the Freedom Trail.

Funded by Peter Faneuil, the original hall was modeled off of an English country market, with an open ground floor and an assembly room above. In 1762 Faneuil Hall had to be rebuilt after a massive fire, and in 1806 the building was expanded to double the original height and width. At the turn of the 20th century, the entire building was rebuilt with noncombustible materials.

At the top of the building sits a gilded grasshopper weathervane, which has become a common symbol for Boston. During the Revolutionary War, in order to determine whether a stranger was British or American, Colonial soldiers would often ask, “What sits atop Faneuil Hall?” The weathervane is thought to be modeled off that of the Royal Exchange in London, which was the center of finance in the Old World.

Today Faneuil Hall is part of Boston’s most famous festival marketplace, including the North Market, Quincy Market, and South Market buildings, with an outdoor-indoor mall and eatery.