Federal Hall facts for kids
|
Federal Hall National Memorial
|
|
|
U.S. Historic district
Contributing property |
|
.jpg)
View of Federal Hall in 2019
|
|
| Location | 26 Wall Street, Financial District, Manhattan, New York City |
|---|---|
| Area | 0.45 acres (0.18 ha) |
| Built | May 26, 1842 |
| Architect | Town and Davis; John Frazee (Interior Rotunda) |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| Visitation | 156,707 (2004) |
| Website | Federal Hall National Memorial |
| Part of | Wall Street Historic District (ID07000063) |
| NRHP reference No. | 66000095 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
|
| Added to NRHP | October 15, 1966 |
| Designated NMEM | August 11, 1955 |
Federal Hall is a special place in New York City. It's located at 26 Wall Street in Manhattan's Financial District. Today, it's a national memorial run by the National Park Service.
The building you see today was finished in 1842. It was built in the Greek Revival style. It first served as a Custom House, where taxes on imported goods were collected.
This memorial is named after a much older building. The first building on this spot was built in 1703. It was New York City's City Hall. Later, it became the first capital building for the newly independent United States.
Contents
A Place of American History
The first building on this site saw many important moments. It was New York's City Hall for many years.
The First City Hall
_(14779713662)_(cropped).jpg)
From 1699 to 1703, the first building was constructed. It became New York's second City Hall. It was a two-story building. Stones from Wall Street's old defenses were used to build it.
This City Hall also had a public library. It even had a firehouse with fire engines. The upper floors were used as a prison for people who owed money.
In 1735, a newspaper publisher named John Peter Zenger was tried here. He was accused of writing false things about the British governor. But he was found not guilty. This case helped establish freedom of the press in America.
In 1765, the building was updated. A third story was added. That year, delegates from nine of the Thirteen Colonies met here. They formed the Stamp Act Congress. They were protesting a new tax from Britain called the Stamp Act. They sent a message to King George III. They said they should have the same rights as people in Britain. They protested "taxation without representation".
During the American Revolutionary War, the Sons of Liberty took over the building. After the war, it became a meeting place for the Continental Congress.
Becoming Federal Hall
After the American Revolution, the building became home to the first U.S. government. This was the Congress of the Confederation. Their first meeting was here on April 13, 1784.
A New Look for a New Nation
New York City wanted to be the capital of the United States. So, the city decided to renovate the old City Hall. They spent $65,000 on the project. They wanted the building to look uniquely American.
Pierre Charles L'Enfant, a French architect, was chosen to redesign it. His design was grander than before. It had an arched walkway at street level. Four large columns supported a balcony. On the balcony level, four tall columns held up a triangular roof section. This roof section showed an American eagle with thirteen arrows. This represented the original Thirteen Colonies.
Inside, the room for the United States House of Representatives was large. It was 60 feet by 60 feet and two stories high. A smaller room for the United States Senate was on the second floor. L'Enfant's design helped create the "Federal style" of architecture.
The Nation's First Capital
The city offices moved out of the building in 1788. Work on the renovation moved quickly. In 1789, the building was renamed Federal Hall. New York City was chosen as the nation's first capital.
The 1st Congress met here starting March 4, 1789. On April 30, 1789, George Washington was sworn in. He became the first President of the United States. This happened on the balcony of Federal Hall.
Many important laws were made here. On September 25, 1789, the United States Bill of Rights was proposed. This set up important freedoms for Americans. The Judiciary Act of 1789 was also passed here. It created the U.S. federal court system.
In 1790, the U.S. capital moved to Philadelphia. Federal Hall was then used for state government. The building was torn down in 1812. This happened after the new New York City Hall opened.
The Current Building
The building you see today is the first one built specifically for the U.S. Custom House. The old Custom House was too small. So, a new, larger building was needed.
Custom House Operations
_(14780910134)_(cropped).jpg)
The architects Ithiel Town and Alexander Jackson Davis designed the new Custom House. Construction began in 1834. The plans were changed to save money. The building opened in 1842. It cost over $900,000 to build.
Importers would do their business in the building's central rotunda. By 1861, the building was again too small. The customs offices moved to a new location in 1862.
Serving as a Subtreasury
After the customs offices moved, 26 Wall Street became the United States Subtreasury. This is where the government stored its money. Gold and coins were kept in large vaults.
In 1883, a bronze statue of George Washington was placed outside. It marks the exact spot where Washington took his oath. By 1903, the building held over $275 million in gold and other money. This was a huge amount for the time.
In 1920, a bomb exploded across the street. This was the Wall Street bombing. Many people were killed or hurt. But the Subtreasury building was not damaged.
The Federal Reserve Bank system replaced the Subtreasury in 1920. The Subtreasury office closed. The building was then used for storage and other government offices.
Becoming a National Memorial
From the 1930s to the 1950s
In 1939, the government planned to tear down the building. But a group called Federal Hall Memorial Associates raised money to save it. On May 26, 1939, the building was named the Federal Hall Memorial National Historic Site.
The National Park Service (NPS) took over the building. It became a museum. It honored the first building on the site, not the current one. The memorial opened to the public on February 22, 1940. It was considered a very important historical site.
The building was used for many events. These included selling World War II war bonds and celebrating Constitution Day. In 1955, Federal Hall was renamed a national memorial. The government planned to restore the building.
From the 1960s to the 1990s
.jpg)
In 1965, the building's outside was named a New York City landmark. It was also added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1966.
Federal Hall became a popular spot for protests and rallies. It closed for restoration in 1968. It reopened as a museum in 1972. In 1975, the building's interior was also named a New York City landmark.
In 1989, Federal Hall hosted a reenactment of Washington's inauguration. President George Bush attended this event. The museum then opened to the public. It featured exhibits about the Constitution of the United States.
From the 2000s to Today
After the September 11 attacks in 2001, Federal Hall was closed for a month. It had some cracks from the nearby World Trade Center collapse. In 2002, the NPS received $16.5 million for repairs.
On September 6, 2002, about 300 members of Congress met there. This was a show of support for New York City. It was the first time Congress met in New York since 1790.
The site closed for a $16 million renovation in 2004. It reopened in 2006. The renovated memorial included a visitor center. In 2007, metal detectors were replaced with magnetometers. This made security faster and increased visitors.
In 2015, the grand staircase was planned for renovation. By 2018, the building still needed many repairs. It had cracked walls, peeling paint, and damaged floors. The NPS temporarily closed the memorial in July 2021 for more repairs.
Building Design
Federal Hall National Memorial was designed by Ithiel Town and Alexander Jackson Davis. The domed rotunda was designed by sculptor John Frazee. The building is made of Tuckahoe marble.
The design shows two important American ideas. The columns on the outside look like those of the Parthenon. This honors Greek democracy. The domed rotunda inside is like the Pantheon. This reminds us of the republican ideals of the ancient Romans.
The building has two basement levels and three full stories above ground. It also has an attic.
Outside the Building
The outside of the building is made of thick marble blocks. Eighteen granite steps lead up to the main entrance. The bronze statue of George Washington stands on these steps. It marks the spot where he took his oath.
At the top of the stairs, columns support a plain triangular roof section. There are no sculptures on this part.
Inside the Rotunda
The main rotunda of Federal Hall is 60 feet wide. It has balconies on four sides. The walls have four sections of columns. Each column is 32 feet high. The southern columns lead to the main entrance. The northern columns lead to a main hallway.
There are gilded-iron balconies behind each set of columns. The rotunda is topped by a self-supporting dome. It has a skylight in the center. The dome has narrow panels and flower-like designs. The floor has gray and cream marble in circles. In the center of the floor is a stone slab. This is where George Washington once stood.
What to Do at Federal Hall
The National Park Service runs Federal Hall as a national memorial. It offers tourist information about other federal parks in New York City. There is also a gift shop.
The memorial has several permanent exhibits. These include:
- George Washington’s Inauguration Gallery: See the George Washington Inaugural Bible used for his oath.
- Freedom of the Press: Learn about the trial of John Peter Zenger.
- New York: An American Capital: A preview exhibit from the National Archives and Records Administration.
You can also see a piece of the balcony where Washington stood. Guided tours are offered throughout the day.
Getting There
Federal Hall is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays. It is closed on weekends. The building is accessible for people with disabilities. There is a ramp at the back, on Pine Street.
You can take the M55 bus to Broadway. The M15 and M15 SBS buses stop on Water Street. The Broad Street subway station (serving the J and Z train lines) is right under Federal Hall.
In 2015, about 200,000 people visited the museum.
Federal Hall on Stamps
Pictures of Federal Hall have appeared on U.S. postage stamps. The first stamp was issued on April 30, 1939. This was the 150th anniversary of President Washington's inauguration. It shows him taking the oath on the balcony.
Another stamp was released in 1957. This honored the 200th birthday of Alexander Hamilton. It shows Hamilton and a full view of Federal Hall.
In 1988, a special 25-cent stamp was issued. It marked 200 years since New York approved the U.S. Constitution. This stamp showed the original Federal Hall, Wall Street, and Trinity Church's steeple.
Images for kids
-
View from north
-
The George Washington Inaugural Bible, on which Washington took his inaugural oath in 1789
-
Brass relief of Washington kneeling in prayer
-
Plaque commemorating the Northwest Ordinance and the establishment of the state of Ohio
See also
In Spanish: Federal Hall para niños
