Boston Freedom Trail

11. Faneuil Hall

Boston, MA

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Since 1742, the Faneuil Hall has served as meeting spot for the people. Faneuil Hall hosted America’s first town meeting and is often referred to as “the home of free speech” and the “cradle of liberty”. This is where the Sons of Liberty proclaimed their dissent against British rule and oppression. It was here that in 1764, Americans first protested against the Sugar and Stamp Acts, and later the Townshend Acts, British occupation, and the Tea Act. After the project of erecting a public market house in Boston had been discussed for some years, merchant Peter Faneuil offered, at a public meeting in 1740, to build a suitable edifice at his own cost as a gift to the town. There was a strong opposition to market houses, and although a vote of thanks was passed unanimously, his offer was accepted by a majority of only seven. Funded in part by profits from slave trading, the building was begun in Dock Square in September of the same year. It was built by artist John Smibert in 1740 to 1742 in the style of an English country market, with an open ground floor serving as the market house, and an assembly room above. Notice the grasshopper on top of the weathervane, regarded as one of the symbols of Boston. Peter Faneuil commissioned the golden Grasshopper from Shem Drowne, who also made the weathervane at the Old north Church. It’s said that during the War of 1812, locals would ask suspected spies “What is on top of Faneuil Hall?”, and anyone who could not answer was suspect. In 1761, the hall was destroyed by fire, and only the brick walls remained. The town rebuilt it in 1762. In 1775, during the British occupation of Boston, it served as a theater. 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 open arcades 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 Ionic pilasters on the third floor. This renovation added galleries around the assembly hall and increased its height. The building was entirely rebuilt of noncombustible materials in 1898–1899. Art within Faneuil Hall includes many paintings and sculpture busts of Revolutionary War activists, pre Civil War abolitionists, and political leaders. The hall houses the Boston Classical Orchestra, and often swears in 300 to 500 new US citizens each year.