The Cradle of Liberty

Monday, July 26, 2010

Boston's Faneuil Hall is the Cradle of Liberty. 

A wealthy merchant, Peter Faneuil, built the hall in 1742 as a center of commerce.  Its first floor held shops (and does yet today) but its second floor meeting hall is its true legacy.

It was at Faneuil Hall, in 1764, that Americans protested the Sugar Act and the Stamp Act setting the doctrine known as "no taxation without presentation" and leading to protestations of the Townshend Act and of Redcoat occupation.

The statue in front of the Hall is of Samuel Adams in honor of his great statesmanship.  He created debate at town meetings in the Hall and held the funeral for the Boston Massacre victims here.  

The third floor houses the Headquarters of the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company of Massachusetts which is the third oldest chartered military organization and the oldest in the western hemisphere.

Atop Faneuil Hall is the most famous weathervane in Boston.  The golden grasshopper weathervane was so well known that it was used during the War of 1812 to spot spies.  If you didn't know what is on top of Faneuil Hall you were suspicious!

Faneuil Hall was rebuilt in 1763 after it burned down and redesigned in 1805.  Today, 24 times a year, 300-500 new citizens take the Oath of Allegiance at Faneuil Hall and are sworn in as new citizens.  There couldn't be a more suitable place to welcome new United States citizens.