Old City Hall - Boston, MA - U.S. National Register of Historic Places on Waymarking.com

---

Boston's Old City Hall was one of the first buildings in the French Second Empire Style to be built in the United States and is now one of the few that survive. The design originated in France during the Second Empire (the reign of Emperor Napoleon III from 1852 to 1870). In Paris, this style gained popularity with the building of the new Louvre. After the completion of Boston's City Hall (1865), the French Second Empire Style was used extensively elsewhere in Boston and for many public buildings in the United States, such as the Executive Office Building in Washington D.C. as well as other city halls in Providence, Baltimore and Philadelphia.

The Statues in the Courtyard

---

BENJAMIN FRANKLIN Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790) was born in Boston and attended school on this site as a boy before pursuing a distinguished career as an author, inventor, scientist, politician and statesman. Scenes of Franklin's accomplishments appear in bas-relief on the square pedestal of the statue. The statue (1856) was the first portrait statue to be erected in Boston. Franklin is depicted as he would actually appear, rather than draped in toga, cloak, or classical attire. The statue was designed by Richard Saltonstall Greenough, as are two of the bas-reliefs.

---

JOSIAH QUINCY Josiah Quincy (1772-1864) was the second Mayor of Boston and served six consecutive, one-year terms from 1823-1828. During his tenure he was reponsible for the development that expanded the produce and meat markets in Faneuil Hall into three new buildings known as the Quincy Markets. This statue (1879) was designed by Thomas Ball.

Street address: 45 School St. Boston, MA United States 02108 County / Borough / Parish: Suffolk County Year listed: 1970 Historic (Areas of) Significance: Architecture/Engineering Periods of significance: 1850-1874 Historic function: Government Current function: Recreation And Culture Privately owned?: no Primary Web Site: [Web Link] Secondary Website 1: [Web Link] Season start / Season finish: Not listed Hours of operation: Not listed Secondary Website 2: Not listed National Historic Landmark Link: Not listed

Visit Instructions:
Please give the date and brief account of your visit. Include any additional observations or information that you may have, particularly about the current condition of the site. Additional photos are highly encouraged, but not mandatory.

Recent Visits/Logs:

Date Logged Log User Rating   10/17/2023 stevepre2 visited it 08/20/2021 MonkeyAndTheEngineer visited it 07/10/2019 Sneakin Deacon visited it 09/23/2018 Duodenfer_ visited it 07/13/2018 lesden visited it 04/08/2018 veritas vita visited it 08/27/2017 wb96bobwhite visited it 08/12/2016 ToRo61 visited it 04/05/2015 LadyKarine visited it 10/25/2014 DrBrain visited it 08/22/2014 Amalthee visited it 04/28/2014 Osa2013 visited it 11/22/2013 Weathervane visited it 08/07/2013 tipete visited it 07/21/2013 buffalohiker visited it 05/08/2013 Chasing Blue Sky visited it 11/23/2011 petendot visited it 08/02/2011 kareve visited it 06/15/2011 NorStar visited it 04/05/2011 The Pirate King visited it 02/08/2011 wildernessmama visited it 06/30/2010 Metro2 visited it 08/12/2009 Arvense visited it 06/24/2009 Clan RunningBison visited it 11/05/2008 DangerousDale visited it

View all visits/logs