Page 149 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - USA

BOST ON , M ASSA CHUSE T T S  147

r Old State House between 1713 and 1776. The
royal lion and unicorn still
Map D3. Washington & State Sts.
Tel (617) 720-1713.  State. decorate the eastern façade.
Open 9am–5pm daily (until 6pm After independence, the
Jun–Aug). & 7 = Massachusetts legislature took
∑ bostonhistory.org possession of the building, and
it has had many uses since,
Now dwarfed by the towers including a produce market,
of the Financial District, the Old Masonic Lodge, and Boston City
State House was the seat of the Hall. Its wine cellars now
British Colonial government function as a subway station.
In 1776, the Declaration
of Independence was read from
the balcony on the East Façade.
A circle of cobble stones below
the balcony marks the site of
the Boston Massacre. On Greek-Revival Custom House tower, one of
March 5, 1770, British Boston’s most striking sights
guardsmen opened fire on
taunting Colonists, killing five. t Faneuil Hall
After the Boston Tea Party, Marketplace
this was one of the most
inflammatory events leading up Map E3. Between Chatham &
to the American Revolution Clinton Sts. Tel (617) 523-1300.
 Haymarket, State.
(see p54). Inside, exhibits include Open 10am–9pm Mon–Sat, noon–
a multi media presentation 6pm Sun. 7 ∑ faneuilhall
about the Boston Massacre and marketplace.com
the restored Royal Council
Old State House amid the sky scrapers of Chamber, where visitors can sit This immensely popular
the Financial District in the Royal Governor’s chair. shopping and dining complex
attracts nearly 14 million people
The tower is a classic example The Central Staircase, with every year. It was developed
of Colonial style. its two spiraling wooden from the old buildings of the
handrails, is a fine example of city’s meat, fish, and produce
18th-century workmanship. markets, which were beautifully
A gilded eagle, restored in the 1970s. The
symbol of America, is
on the west façade. 535-ft- (163-m-) long Greek-
Revival-style Faneuil hall is now
filled with fast-food stands and
tables beneath the spectacular
The East Façade still has central rotunda. Completing the
the royal British lion and
unicorn symbol on each ensemble are the twin North
corner. It is adorned with a and South Market buildings,
beautiful clock dating to refurbished to house boutiques,
the 1820s. restaurants, and business offices.
A short distance southeast of
Faneuil Hall Marketplace is the
Custom House with its Greek-
Revival tower. The 495-ft (150m)
tower with a four-sided clock
was built in 1915 and for much
of the 20th century was Boston’s
only skyscraper until it was
exceeded by the Prudential
Tower. There is a display of local
history in the rotunda. Call for
the schedule of tours of the
Entrance
tower, which offer spectacular
Keayne Hall city and harbor views.
displays exhibits
that depict events The P Custom House
from the American Declaration of 3 McKinley Square. Tel (617) 310-6300.
Revolution. Independence was Tower: & ∑ marriott.com/
read from this Council
balcony in 1776. Chamber vacationclub

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