Faneuil Hall - Quincy Market, Boston

4 more images

Quincy Market is not an extension of Faneuil Hall; but the proximity of the two buildings makes visiting the two of them at the same time easy, and makes the choice of deciding what to eat infinitely more difficult. This structure was constructed in the 1820s, in response to the rapid growth of the city of Boston and the need for more commercial space. Part of the harbor was filled in and Quincy Hall, designed by Alexander Parris, was erected on the site. I suppose it could be called an eclectic style building, since the façade features Doric columns but the rest of the building is not entirely in a neo-Classical style. The interior of the market is quite interesting too, with its copula lined with dark wood. Today this is exclusively a food market and you can get all types of Boston specialties here. There are glass annexes that were added in the 1970s, so the building new has one of those hybrid old-new styles. My suggestion is to eat under the copula and the wooden beams.

4 more images

Faneuil Hall is probably the oddest part of Boston’s Freedom Trail. It’s not odd because of its design, or because of the original use of the building, but rather because of its current use. Other structures have been maintained in their original purpose (such as King’s Chapel, Park Church and the Massachusetts State House) or have been converted to museums (such as the Old State House). Faneuil Hall, however, is now a crafts market, where you can buy all sorts of overpriced tourist kitsch. It is ringed by modern stores and dozens of little vendors selling, usually, obscene t-shirts and paraphernalia. The original hall was built in 1740-42, although it burnt down and was rebuilt in the 1760s. It was intended to be an English country market, but the Hall soon became known for being a centre of fiery political speech and calls for reform throughout the 18th and 19th century (after the Revolution, it was also a hotbed of anti-slavery activity). The political importance of the hall has remained up to the current period: in 2004, this is where John Kerry conceded the Presidency of the United States to incumbent George W. Bush.

4 more images

This scene is not for me, but many-hundreds or thousands come here continually to shop. There are about 200 shops in the three Quincy buildings and then 38 carts outside. You can choose from 16 restaurants or 35 other eating places in the buildings. FAst food to casual. They have Quincy market in the middle and then long buildings called south and north markets bookending that. I am thankful it was not the middle of summer with MAny people and it is hot and muggy. Fall was enough of a gauntlet.

4 more images

The desire of Peter Fanueil was to build a market and hall for the community. He did that in 1742 and in spite of burning in 1761, it was expanded in 1805 to double. Now the hall upstairs is the meeting place ( from the old days) and down is the shops to gifts and candies.

4 more images

Peter Faneuil became wealthy from merchant shipping of goods. He wanted to build a market hall for the community and in 1742 that was completed. It burned in the interior in 1761 and took two years to rebuild. Then in 1805 they wanted to expand and solicited Charles Bulfinch, well known architect for the region. He doubled the size of the building without diminishing its style. The hall was used through 1822 at which time they city converted to a council rather than town hall forum. It continued as a meeting hall for issues in the mid 1800's.
Now besides the preserved hall upstairs, the downstairs is a shopping area for trinkets and gifts.

4 more images

It was first build over 1740-42. A fire in 1761 burned most of it and again rebuilt in 1862 Charles Bulfinch expanded it, nearly doubling the size. It was rebuilt in 1898 to support he structural soundness. A refurbishment was done in 1979 and totally reworked in 1997. Upstairs the grand hall is intact. Downstairs there are shops, just like in the old days to sell goods.

3 more images

We spent a lot of time shopping, eating and snaking here. On the fourth of July, Fanuel Hall was filled with Benjamin Franklin's and Franklin Wanna Bee's. Faneuil Hall is located near the waterfront and today's Government Center, in Boston, Massachusetts and has been a marketplace and a meeting hall since 1742. 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.

1 more image

After having a very nice seafood lunch in the Quincy Market we walked across the open space to the historic Faneuill Hall which has also been known as "The Cradle of Liberty". Built in 1742 as a gift to the city from a prominent merchant, the hall bears his name.

Known over the years as the place for public speaking it is now part of the the market area with stalls selling all sorts of touristy merchandise, some snack foods etc. Well worth the visit to enjoy this historic place which has been renovated to its original best.

2 more images

Having just returned from England, my first reaction when I saw Quincy Market was "cool, I'm back in Covent Garden" - with an American twist of course! Thanks to restoration efforts that were undertaken in the 1970s, Quincy Market and Faneuil Hall have both become tourist must-sees. While Faneuil Hall is home to a tourist information office, a post office and plenty of souvenir shops, Quincy Market offers a wide variety of boutiques (Victoria's Secret, Urban Outfitters, Nine West...) as well as many pubs and restaurants, including the new and bigger "Cheers!". If you're traveling on a budget, you'll be happy to know that there's a food court inside the Quincy Market where you can get a decent meal for just a few bucks. With plenty of street performers, tourists and locals around, there's always a fun atmosphere so it's definitely worth checking it out!

4 more images

FANEUIL HALL is where the first protest of the Sugar Act took place, and it is here that the concept of "no taxation without representation" was created.

The adjacent Quincy Market was added in 1826.

Today you can eat here, buy souveniers, clothing, accessories and such. There are usually street entertainers as well.