Boston is among the oldest cities in the United States, the Puritan colonists from England founded Boston on the Shawmut peninsula in 1630. The city was home to some of the major events of the American Revolution.  After the United States gained independence from the British Empire, the city continued to be an important harbor and production center, as well as an educational and cultural center.Through land reclamation and consolidation, Boston was extended beyond the original peninsula.  Boston's rich history attracts many visitors, with Faneuil Hall alone attracting over 20 million visitors.