With a statue of Samuel Adams in front, Faneuil Hall is one of main Boston's buildings where American history was made. Prosperous merchant Peter Faneuil donated the building to the city in 1742, when it dominated the Boston waterfront. The upper story served as a meeting hall, the scene of many stirring gatherings during the Revolutionary movement. British officers used the building as a theater during their occupation of the city. Atop the hall, the gilt grasshopper weather vane is a Boston landmark.

King's Chapel was built in 1754 for the Church of England. The interior is considered one of the finest examples of Georgian architecture in the United States. The adjacent burying ground was established just months after the area was settled, in 1630. This burial ground is akin to a museum featuring the works of 17th and 18th century craftsmen. Gravestones here are notable for their artistry rather than names they feature. It contains the graves of Gov. John Winthrop, the Rev. John Cotton and John Davenport, founder of New Haven.

Located on the city's waterfront at Central Wharf off Atlantic Avenue, the aquarium displays more than 15,000 specimens representing more than 600 species of fish and aquatic animals. An outdoor seal exhibit features a raised tank for visitors to view the animals above and below the water's surface.