II. Faneuil Hall as a Node

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Visual of the bricks indicating the Freedom Trail, which suggests the historical intrigue of Faneuil Hall.  

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Faneuil Hall's role is no longer to sell meat and produce, as it was in the 1700s.  This is an example of Faneuil Hall as a cultural palimpsest.  The general role of Faneuil Hall is similar--to sell and serve as a meeting place for people.  However, as the needs and desires of the populace have changed, so has everything that Faneuil Hall has to offer, which is now often limited to items and experiences of a historical and touristic nature.  

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Faneuil Hall is a museum.  Called the "cradle of liberty," it symbolizes American democracy, independence, and political expression. 

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This shows a rather ironic intermingling of the reasons for which Faneuil Hall is a "node".  People gather around a street performer with their back to a statue of Samuel Adams (some using the statue to catch a better view of the performer). 

A recording of bustling Quincy Market.  

This captures a lively street performance that attracted many visitors to Faneuil Hall.  

FANEUIL HALL AS A NODE

Faneuil Hall is a “node”: it is where pathways of people from many walks of life cross—whether homeless Bostonians searching for a place to rest, tourists gawking at the historical sites, or locals looking for a bite to eat.  But it is not a node in entirely the same ways as it once was.  It has acquired two reason for being a node: historical significance and touristic attraction, the latter being strongly influenced by the former.

HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE

The first and most important reason that Faneuil Hall is still a node is its historical significance: it was at Faneuil Hall that many of the protests that sparked the American Revolution were held ("Faneuil Hall") Perhaps the most notable and visible path passing through Faneuil Hall is the Freedom Trail, a line of distinguished bricks that winds throughout Boston, passing by the most significant sites.  Faneuil Hall and thus has gained a spot in a route that entirely historically-focused (see Item #34), an area of significance that emerged because of its original importance as a gathering place.  For this reason, part of Faneuil Hall is now devoted to a museum, a complete novelty in the history of the usages of this building (Item #31).  

TOURISM

It is presumably largely because of this significance that Faneuil Hall has come to be known as a major tourist destination.  In fact, it was ranked by Travel and Leisure as the US’s 8th most popular tourist attraction ("America's Most Visited Tourist Attractions"). 

The importance of the site, along with the ever-bustling Quincy Market and ubiquitous souvenirs, explain the hoards of tourists that regularly flock to the area.  It is a node for more reasons than tourism, however.  Items #35 and #62, which capture a street performance outside Faneuil Hall, confirm that this is a place for the people, and not just for those who can afford souvenirs and overpriced pizza.