Revival of Faneuil Hall's market buildings launched the 'festival marketplace' concept

Quincy Market opened in 1826 behind Boston's historic Faneuil Hall in order to provide more market space for food sellers.

But, after decades of neglect, the market and two surrounding buildings — North Market and South Market — faced demolition before being revived as the Faneuil Hall Marketplace in 1976. The successful project became a model for "festival marketplaces" and similar efforts to revive urban centers across the country. Among them:

— South Street Seaport, New York: Located along the East River in lower Manhattan, its historic buildings, cobblestone streets and sailing ships are meant to echo the city's role as a vital port city.

— Harborplace, Baltimore: A two-pavilion complex of shopping, dining, and entertainment on the Inner Harbor that was a key piece of the city's renaissance when it opened in 1980.

— Navy Pier, Chicago: Originally built as a municipal pier on Lake Michigan, the 50-acre pier today has a 150-foot high Ferris wheel and other amusement rides, as well as a children's museums and theaters. It is one of the top tourist destinations in the Midwest.

— St. Louis Union Station: Once one of the busiest passenger rail terminals in the world, the station was redeveloped in the mid-1980s into a 529-room hotel with retail shops, offices and a lake and plaza for special events and concerts.