Avoiding the tourists: Three hidden gems in Boston's Faneuil Hall

Tourists love to flock to Boston’s Faneuil Hall for the great shopping and bevy of street entertainers who can steal your attention for hours on end. Amongst all the souvenir and pastry shops, however, are a couple hidden gems that most tourists pass by, but are central to the marketplace's rich history. Here are a couple places to look for just off the beaten path:

The United States Post Office - Step into this old fashioned building and you may feel like you're walking into the middle of a movie set; it's not hard to imagine how it once served Boston’s horse and carriage trade. Make sure to check out the large eagle statue on the back wall - its banner reads "Established 1775" and is a great photo op!
The Great Hall - Enter the back of Faneuil Hall (across from Quincy Market) through the center doorway that leads upstairs, and you'll be taken to the Great Hall, where Bostonians used to meet in secret to discuss plans leading up to the Revolution. The back entrance allowed them to come and go without being noticed by the English Headquarters (The Old State House) that's located across the street from the front of the building. Check out the large painting of Daniel Webster addressing a crowd that includes John Adams and John Quincy Adams (father & son). The hall is still used for official purposes even today - this is where new citizens are sworn in, as well as new members of the Massachusetts Bar, new police recruits, new firemen, etc.
Museum of the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company - Two flight above the Great Hall (hint: there is a little elevator on the right hand side) is the home of the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company, the third oldest chartered military organization in the World, and the oldest in the Western Hemisphere. They also happen to boast one of the finest military museums in the United States, although few people are aware of its location. It is open to the public free of charge from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., Monday-Friday, except on holidays.
Faneuil Hall is a quick walk from the Millennium Bostonian, Marriott's Boston Custom House, and Harborside Inn hotels.
- Alan Maltzman of BostonCityWalks.com
[Flickr/wallyg]