Peter Faneuil (1700-1743) built Faneuil Hall in 1742 in order to fill a need for a public market. The market was on the first floor, while the second floor was the Great Hall where town meetings and civic gatherings occurred. At the time of the conception of the marketplace, people were hesitant and even outright disagreed with the plans. The hesitation dated back to 1696 when the Massachusetts General Court first established a regulated market. The market did not last and left nowhere for people to buy and sell their goods. Instead, farmers wandered the streets selling their goods to whomever they came across. This caused problems, because it was inconvenient for the people searching for a lone farmer, also the people who lived farther away from these areas did not get good products. This created tension among the community. In 1734, the government again attempted at having a regulated market by building three markets throughout the town. A few years later, an angry mob disguised as clergy burned the markets down. Even though the people were hesitant, Faneuil Hall opened in 1742 to the public. It took years for the market to prosper, but the community admired the Great Hall.

Since 1742, many influential people have utilized the Great Hall. During the Revolutionary War James Otis, Dr. Joseph Warren, Samuel Adams, and many others used the Great Hall to further their goals. Many of the protests regarding the unjust taxation of the colonists were held at the Great Hall. George Washington even celebrated the nation’s first birthday in the Great Hall. In addition to Revolutionary leaders, many civil rights activists utilized the hall for their own purposes. People like Frederick Douglas, William Lloyd Garrison, and Lucy Stone spoke to the people about equality. The people needed a central location to gather and voice their opinions and concerns. Even though the hall has seen great men and women speak, it has also seen violence. Angry mobs broke up numerous civic meetings throughout its existence. Because of the many issues the hall witnessed, it received the nickname of “Cradle of Liberty.”

By: Jessica McKenzie

Credits and Sources:

City of Boston. Faneuil Hall: Boston Landmarks Commission Study Report. Boston Landmarks Commission Environment Department, September 1994. https://www.cityofboston.gov/images_documents/Faneuil%20Hall%20%23176_tcm3-41987.pdf

Faneuil Hall Marketplace. “History.” Faneuil Hall Marketplace Merchant’s Association. Accessed September 18, 2016. http://www.faneuilhallmarketplace.com/info/history

National Park Service. “Faneuil Hall.” National Park Service Department of the Interior. Accessed September 18, 2016. https://www.nps.gov/bost/learn/historyculture/fh.htm

O’Connor, Thomas H. Boston: A to Z. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 2000.