Marblehead's Victorian town hall, built in 1876, is the kind of architectural statement a prosperous New England town makes when it feels it has earned the right. The main attraction is the "Spirit of '76" painting by Archibald McNeal Willard, donated to the town and now displayed in the selectmen's meeting room on the upper floor. The painting — a drummer boy, a wounded soldier, and a fifer marching against a grey sky — has reproduced so many times that seeing the original is a small surprise: it is larger, and more detailed, than expected.
The building also holds a small collection of historical material relating to Marblehead and is open most days during business hours. Entry is free. The building sits on a rise with views over the harbour.
188 Washington Street.