Faneuil Hall holds an important place in American history as a symbol of hope and a reminder of the nation's struggles for freedom. Wealthy merchant Peter Faneuil offered Faneuil Hall to the city of Boston in 1740. In order for the city to approve his marketplace, he arranged for the room above the market to serve as a meeting place for city government.

The site earned the moniker "The Cradle of Liberty" because often times it harbored acts of colonial resentment and protest against the harsh rule of the British during the years predating the American Revolution. Samuel Adams, James Otis, John Hancock, and other Revolutionary figures frequented Faneuil Hall, attending meetings held there to discuss plans on how to deal with the increased taxes that the English crown imposed upon them.

Fire destroyed the building in 1761, and by then it had become so important to the citizens of Boston that they organized a town lottery to cover the cost of rebuilding. In 1805, prominent architect Charles Bulfinch expanded the size of Faneuil Hall, which he did successfully without altering the basic design.

In the 19th century, Faneuil Hall heard cries for the abolition of slavery, and in the 20th century, it heard the pleas against temperance and for women's suffrage. Faneuil Hall has remained an important forum for Bostonians throughout many of the major changes over the past few hundred years, and today the original building is intact as a part of the larger Faneuil Hall Marketplace located on Boston's famous Freedom Trail.