Faneuil Hall Closed For Renovation
The “Cradle of Liberty” is taking a break until Boston is (hopefully) much warmer.
Faneuil Hall closed to the public Sunday night for construction crews to begin work on a $3.8M renovation that entails upgrades to the building’s heating and air conditioning systems, improved accessibility and a better fire alarm. The 275-year-old building is expected to reopen in the spring, the Boston Globe reports.
While the historic building, a popular spot on the Freedom Trail, is closed, the adjacent Faneuil Hall Marketplace will stay open. The retail and dining hub is already in the middle of its own transformation since Ashkenazy Acquisition Corp. took over as operator six years ago. The company has launched a restoration campaign intended to draw more locals to the complex while also improving the visitor experience through better programming, restaurants and shops.
Faneuil Hall got its nickname after being dedicated in the name of liberty in 1763 following a renovation after a fire nearly destroyed it. Colonists protested the Sugar Act at Faneuil Hall in 1764, and it is where the mantra of “no taxation without representation” is said to have been born. George Washington, Samuel Adams and Susan B. Anthony are some of the many speakers to have delivered impassioned rhetoric from the building.