Faneuil Hall Marketplace encompasses four historic places in one location — Faneuil Hall, Quincy Market, North Market and South Market, all set around a quaint cobblestone promenade where jugglers, magicians and musicians entertain the visitors. It was the site of several speeches by Samuel Adams, James Otis, and others encouraging independence from Great Britain, and is now part of Boston National Historical Park and a well-known stop on the Freedom Trail Travel Advice in USA. It is sometimes referred to as “the Cradle of Liberty”.
History of Faneuil Hall Marketplace
18th century
The original Faneuil Hall Marketplace was built by artist John Smibert in 1740–1742 in the style of an English country market, with an open ground floor and an assembly room above, and funded by a wealthy Boston merchant, Peter Faneuil. The grasshopper weather vane is a well known symbol of Boston; see the section “Grasshopper weather vane,” below. Faneuil Hall Marketplace is a Great Place For Vacations. Knowledge of the grasshopper was used as a shibboleth during the Revolution period. The people would ask suspected spies the identity of the object on the top of Faneuil Hall; if they answered correctly, then they were free; if not, they were convicted as British spies.
19th century
In 1805, the hall was greatly expanded by Charles Bulfinch, doubling its height and width and adding a third floor. Four new bays were added, to make seven in all; the openarcades were enclosed, and the cupola was moved to the opposite end of the building. Bulfinch applied Doric brick pilasters to the lower two floors, with Ionicpilasters on the third floor. This renovation added galleries around the assembly hall and increased its height. The building was entirely rebuilt of noncombustible
20th-21st century
On October 9, 1960 the building was designated a National Historic Landmark and added to the National Register of Historic Places a number of years later.The ground floor and basement were altered in 1979. The Hall was restored again in 1992.
Uses of Faneuil Hall
On November 6, 1979, Faneuil Hall was the site of Sen. Edward M. Kennedy’s speech declaring his candidacy for president.[4] On November 3, 2004, Faneuil Hall Marketplace was the site of Senator John Kerry’s concession speech in the 2004 presidential election.The Headquarters of the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company of Massachusetts has been in Faneuil Hall Marketplace since 1746, currently on the 4th floor.Faneuil Hall is the home of the Boston Classical Orchestra, a professional orchestra, which has been performing in the “Great Hall” there regularly since 1980.It is also still used for political debates between Massachusetts candidates as well as political shows, such as The O’Reilly Factor.