Old City Hall

Old City Hall is a granite government building at 45 School Street in Boston featuring a mansard roof, ornamental columns, and large windows in French Second Empire style. The complex now contains about 83,000 square feet of office and retail space in downtown Boston's central location.

The building was constructed in 1865 and served as Boston's city hall until 1969, housing thirty-eight successive mayors. Its conversion to commercial space marked a turning point for this long-established seat of government.

The building occupies the site of Boston Latin School, founded in 1635, where influential figures like Benjamin Franklin and John Hancock studied. This heritage shapes how the place is understood as a center of learning and opportunity.

The central downtown location offers easy access near major transportation hubs. Visitors should know that the building is now primarily used for commercial purposes, so public access may be limited to certain areas.

A bronze statue of Benjamin Franklin stands outside, placed in 1856 as Boston's first portrait statue. This early honor of a historical figure remains a distinctive feature of the building's surroundings.

Location: Massachusetts

Architects: Gridley James Fox Bryant

Architectural style: Second Empire architecture in the United States and Canada

GPS coordinates: 42.35811,-71.05933

Latest update: December 7, 2025 19:29