Faneuil Hall Marketplace

Location	Government Center
Admission	Free
Hours	9 am to 5 pm daily
Phone	617-242-5642

Although all of Boston is brimming with great food and fashion, Faneuil Hall Marketplace is one of the city’s main centers of commercial activity. Composed of Faneuil Hall, Quincy Market, North Market, and South Market, as well as numerous street vendors, you can purchase almost anything at the marketplace. Whether you want souvenirs, couture, hamburgers at a replica of the original Cheers bar, or fine seafood dining, the marketplace will meet your needs and more than satisfy your shopping desires. During warmer months, various festivals take place outside, allowing for a thoroughly entertaining shopping experience.

Apart from its marketplace identity, the original Faneuil Hall serves a second, but not secondary, purpose. Since 1742 it has acted as a meetinghouse for citizens of Boston to exercise their constitutional right to freedom of speech. Since the Revolution, the hall, dubbed the “Cradle of Liberty”, has welcomed both protesters and inspirational speakers alike. George Washington commemorated America’s first birthday with a celebratory toast at a party that took place in the building, and set an example for many political figures to follow. Since the first President’s oration, captivated audiences in Faneuil Hall have heard many speakers, such as women’s rights activist Susan B. Anthony and former President Bill Clinton. Even today, the second floor of Faneuil Hall serves as a place for Boston citizens to discuss and debate community issues and events.