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Boston, Massachusetts Faneuil Hall 
Located near the waterfront and Boston’s Government Centre, Faneuil Hall is sometimes referred to as “the Cradle of Liberty", as it was the site of speeches by Samuel Adams, John Hancock and James Otis, and others who criticised the Sugar and Stamp Acts encouraging independence from Great Britain, and ultimately leading to the Boston Tea Party. It was here that the first flames of the struggle emerged that led to war and independence. Built by colonial merchant and slave trader Peter Faneuil in 1740–1742 in the style of an English country market, it had an open ground floor serving as the market house, and an assembly room above. Faneuil offered to build it at his own expense as a gift to the town at a public meeting in 1740. Despite there being considerable opposition, due to the project being funded in part by profits from the slave trade and some of Boston's early slave auctions, which took place near where it was to be built, The building would serve as a meeting hall and a permanent central marketplace. It also provided a platform for the country’s most famous orators. It became home to the town government and served as a public hall for concerts, banquets, and ceremonies. In 1761, the hall was destroyed by fire, with nothing but the brick walls remaining. It was rebuilt by the town in 1762. In 1775, during the British occupation of Boston, it was used for a theatre. In 1806, 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 open arcades were enclosed, and the cupola was moved to the opposite end of the building. Bulfinch constructed Doric brick pilasters to the lower two floors, and Ionic pilasters on the third floor. It was at this time that the galleries around the assembly hall were added, and its height increased. The Hall was used for town meetings until 1822. In the 1830s the hall was used by Abolitionists who formed the Committee of Vigilance and Safety in order to protect the coloured people of the city. In 1898–1899 the building was completely rebuilt using non-combustible materials. The building was designated a National Historic Landmark and added to the National Register of Historic Places in October 1960. In 1979 the Ground Floor (First Floor) and Basement which is accessed by a staircase from the Ground Floor.  The building underwent some alteration with additional work restoring the Hall being carried out in 1992. Faneuil Hall is not part of the festival marketplace known as Faneuil Hall Marketplace but is owned by the City of Boston and managed by the National Park Service. In 2017 there was a proposal that Faneuil Hall's name be changed due to Peter Faneuil's participation in the slave trade. This was rejected by Boston’s mayor despite additional name change protests. Today Faneuil Hall is used for public meetings, for political rallies, grassroots activism, and other civic events, including naturalization ceremonies. The Great Hall is staffed by Park Rangers of the National Park Service. At the time of this visit it was undergoing some repair work following some water damage.  The Ground floor of the marketplace houses over 80 retailers occupy 200,000+ square feet of retail space.   On the top of the building is a gilded grasshopper weathervane created by Deacon Shem Drowne in 1742. Gilded with gold leaf, it is 4 feet (1.2 m) long, and weighs 80 pounds (36 kg), It is believed to be modelled after that of the one on the London Royal Exchange. In 1974 the Weathervane was stolen but was then returned. The interior includes many paintings and sculpture with busts of Revolutionary War activists, pre-Civil War abolitionists, and political leaders. It also contains panels explaining the history of the building and artefacts.  The building is one of the top 10 tourist destinations in the country and is one of the most popular places to visit in Boston. |
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All Photographs were taken by and are copyright of Ron Gatepain
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