Boston is often called the "cradle of liberty" because of the many important historical events that shaped the colonies' fight for independence.
At left, Anna & Dr Pepper visit the historic Old State House, built in 1712-1713 and the oldest public building in Boston. This was the site of the Boston Massacre, which fueled colonists' resentment against British rule in 1770. On July 11th, 1776, the Declaration of Independence was proclaimed from the balcony to jubilant crowds below.
Two hundred years later for America's Bicentennial, Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain toured the Old State House and shared remarks from the historic balcony, including the following:
"If Paul Revere, Samuel Adams, and other patriots could have known that one day a British monarch would stand on the balcony of the Old State House, from which the Declaration of Independence was first read to the people of Boston, and be greeted in such kind and generous words ...... well, I think they would have been extremely surprised! But perhaps they would also have been pleased to know that eventually we came together again as free peoples and friends to defend together the very ideals for which the American Revolution was fought."