It is perhaps bitterly ironic that the place known as “The Cradle of Liberty” should have been built on money made in the trade of enslaved people. Faneuil Hall, Boston’s most visited tourist site and central in the planning of the American Revolution, was first built as a gift to the city by the wealthy, heirless trader and owner of enslaved people Peter Faneuil. Fittingly, over the years it has attracted events and protests from a variety of political and social movements. It’s positively loaded with history—and a reputation for hauntings. 

In, on, and around Faneuil Hall are a variety of wrinkles to the historic tale of this historic city, from the hall’s grasshopper weathervane to a nearby lavish staircase that leads nowhere. Here are some of our favorite places to visit just minutes from the iconic meeting place and marketplace.