Financial District in Manhattan in New York County, New York — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Federal Hall National Memorial
Exploring Downtown
Photographed By Larry Gertner, December 14, 2018
1. The current "Exploring Lower Manhattan" version, 2018
A majestic statue of George Washington stands on the front steps of Federal Hall in memory of Washington’s inauguration as the country’s first president – which happened on this spot on April 30th, 1789. The current building is named for the original Federal Hall, perhaps the most historic site in the entire country, where more than two centuries ago American democracy was born. From 1785 to 1790, New York served as the first capital of the brand-new United States of America. It was in Federal Hall that Congress met for the first time, adopted the Bill of Rights, and created the Departments of State, War and Treasury, and the United States Supreme Court. Today, Federal Hall serves as a museum operated by the National Park Service.
Erected by The Alliance for Downtown New York, Inc.
Topics. This historical marker and memorial is listed in these topic lists: Government & Politics • Notable Buildings • Notable Events. A significant historical month for this entry is April 1867.
Location. 40° 42.413′ N, 74° 0.607′ W. Marker is in Manhattan, New York, in New York County. It is in the Financial District. Marker is at the intersection of Wall Street and Broad Street, on the left when traveling east on Wall Street. The marker has since been moved across
this page online
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Federal Hall National Monument (here, next to this marker); 40 Wall Street (within shouting distance of this marker); On this site in Federal Hall (within shouting distance of this marker); Wall Street Palisade (within shouting distance of this marker); Ohio Company of Associates (within shouting distance of this marker); J.P. Morgan Building (within shouting distance of this marker); J. P. Morgan (within shouting distance of this marker); New York Stock Exchange (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Manhattan.
More about this memorial. The top of the marker contains a picture of George Washington taking the oath of office at Federal Hall. Below this is a picture of the Bill of Rights, with a caption of “The Bill of Rights – the collective name for the first 10 amendments to the United States Constitution, and one of the most important documents in the history of American democracy, guaranteeing such basic freedoms as press, speech, and religion – was passed by Congress meeting at Federal Hall in September 1789. The bottom of the marker features pictures of the Pantheon,
Photographed By Bill Coughlin, November 4, 2009
2. Federal Hall National Memorial Marker - former version
Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker. Take a tour of the markers in lower Manhattan erected by the Alliance for Downtown New York, Inc.
Also see . . .
1. Federal Hall. National Park Service website. (Submitted on November 8, 2009, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey.)
2. Federal Hall. Earliest Continental Congress; Washington Inauguration; Home of the Bill of Rights. New York Freedom Trail website. (Submitted on November 8, 2009, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey.)
3. The 1842 Federal Hall National Memorial. "Daytonian in Manhattan" entry. (Submitted on April 9, 2020, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)
Photographed By Bill Coughlin, November 4, 2009
3. Marker on Wall Street
Photographed By Bill Coughlin, November 4, 2009
4. Federal Hall National Memorial Marker
Historic Trinity Church can be seen beyond the marker, at the end of Wall Street.
Photographed By Volker Schmidt, May 2010
5. Federal Hall National Memorial
Photographed By Bill Coughlin, November 4, 2009
6. Federal Hall National Memorial
The statue of George Washington and Greek columns of Federal Hall are seen here behind the marker.
Photographed By Bill Coughlin, November 4, 2009
7. George Washington Statue
Photographed By Bill Coughlin, November 4, 2009
8. Federal Hall Inaugural Stone
in the balcony of Federal Hall
April 30, 1789
George Washington
took the Oath
as the first President
of the
United States of America.
Photographed By Bill Coughlin, November 4, 2009
9. Washington's Bible
Bible used by George Washington during his Inauguration at Federal Hall in 1789.
Printed in 1767, it has also been used during the Inaugurations of President Harding in 1921, President Eisenhower in 1953, President Jimmy Carter in 1977, and President George Bush Sr. [sic] in 1989.
The Bible is owned by St. John's Lodge No. 1 and is on loan to the National Park Service. It can be seen inside Federal Hall.
Printed in 1767, it has also been used during the Inaugurations of President Harding in 1921, President Eisenhower in 1953, President Jimmy Carter in 1977, and President George Bush Sr. [sic] in 1989.
The Bible is owned by St. John's Lodge No. 1 and is on loan to the National Park Service. It can be seen inside Federal Hall.
Photographed By Volker Schmidt, May 2010
10. Federal Hall National Memorial
On this site in Federal Hall April 30, 1789 George Washington took the Oath as the first President of the United States of America
Photographed By Larry Gertner, 2000
11. The original "Heritage Trails" version, 2000
Photographed By Larry Gertner, 2000
12. Federal Hall National Memorial
Complete view of the Wall Street façade.
Credits. This page was last revised on September 21, 2023. It was originally submitted on November 8, 2009, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey. This page has been viewed 1,593 times since then and 26 times this year. Last updated on December 27, 2018, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York. Photos: 1. submitted on December 22, 2018, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York. 2, 3, 4. submitted on November 8, 2009, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey. 5. submitted on April 30, 2011, by Volker Schmidt of Albstadt, Germany. 6, 7, 8, 9. submitted on November 8, 2009, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey. 10. submitted on April 30, 2011, by Volker Schmidt of Albstadt, Germany. 11, 12. submitted on December 22, 2018, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.
