Granted, the rabble-rousers and revolutionaries who once thronged Faneuil Hall's cobblestone byways have been replaced by restaurateurs and vendors, but it still holds firmly to its title as the Cradle of Liberty -- even if it's just the liberty to choose between two Todd English restaurants. Famously funded for construction in 1742 by Huguenot merchant Peter Faneuil, the marketplace was Boston's earliest public food market and central auditorium space.

In 1763, it served as the site of several town meetings seminal to the Revolution, thereby establishing a reputation for radicalism that later attracted subversives like William Lloyd Garrison (a renowned anti-slavery activist) and Susan B. Anthony (leader of the suffrage movement). Despite its centrality to the city's commercial and political identity, the marketplace had fallen into such decay by the '60s that it was slated for demolition -- a fate from which it was happily saved by a world- class urban renewal project, showcasing the modernist vision of architect Benjamin Thompson.

Now the refurbished Faneuil Hall and Quincy Market area has regained its status as the unrivaled urban heart of Boston, attracting more than 12 million visitors annually. The adjacent spaces now house more than 60 shops and 50 restaurants, ranging from fast food to five-star cuisine. Roving street performers and the occasional community celebration add an air of eccentricity to what might otherwise seem like an exceptionally historic walking mall. -- Julia Clinger