Quincy Market which is part of the Faneuil Hall Marketplace has been a favorite lifestyle destination and a social epicenter in Boston for more than 200 years. It was built from 1824 to 1826 and was named to pay tribute to former mayor Josiah Quincy.

When Boston was officially chartered as a city in 1822, the commercial activity in its downtown area grew exponentially and Faneuil Hall, which is the first public market in the city, could no longer accommodate the throngs of people joining in on the retail boom. In order to accommodate the increasing demand for more retail space, Faneuil Hall was augmented with the Quincy Market in the 1800s which was meant to provide an indoor space for vendors.

The blueprint of the Quincy Market was conceptualized and designed by Alexander Parris and was built on a reclaimed area that was once included within the harbor. Aside from the market itself, six new streets were also made to cope with the increasing vehicular traffic in the area.

During its early years, Quincy Market was mainly composed of produce, eggs, cheese and bread sellers who were joined later on by meat vendors who performed the actual butchering process on the site so buyers are guaranteed of the freshness of its source.

Arguably one of the grandest marketplaces in Boston, Quincy Market covers an area of 27,000 square feet and is composed of two levels. It is 535 feet in length and was made using the finest New England granite. Inside, the interior is equally impressive with red brick walls. By the time that it was completed, the Quincy Market is an unprecedented architectural feat as it is the pioneering large-scale structure where granite and glass were utilized in post-and-beam architecture.

The east and west edifices of the Quincy Market has been greatly influenced by the Roman style featuring the very recognizable Doric columns coupled with very prominent triangular-shaped pediments. The rectangular form of the building gave birth to a long hallway right at the middle of the building. Looking up, visitors will see eight chimneys which are evenly apart from another as well as a dome cladded with copper over a common seating space and the market?s primary side entryway.

A couple of hundred years have passed but Quincy Market has thrived as one of the most frequented tourist hotspots in Boston. It is also a favorite dining destination of busy urbanites working nearby for a fast but nevertheless sumptuous lunch. And why not? Quincy Market boasts of seventeen diners and pubs which include some high-end restaurants.

Aside from food, there are over 100 stores that shoppers can visit. The choices are very diverse from popular brands to souvenir items that were crafted by homegrown Boston craftsmen. The Quincy Market is also bursting with entertainment which can be best enjoyed on the weekends during the summer season.