New York Daily Photo Analytics

Monday, May 28, 2007

Federal Hall

Overshadowed by the New York Stock Exchange across the street and with all there is to do and see in NYC, Federal Hall at 26 Wall Street is easily overlooked. This beautiful, Doric-columned Greek revival structure with a simplified Parthenon facade is carved from marble; inside is a rotunda. Click here for more photos. National monuments are more the agenda of Washington D.C. visitors than NYC ones, but this is definitely worth a visit - it actually is one of the most important buildings in U.S. history and just completed a renovation in November 2006 (it had been closed since 2004). The site has played a part in American government for over 300 years. 26 Wall Street was the location of New York's City Hall, built in 1700. After the American Revolution, the Continental Congress met at City Hall. When the Constitution was ratified in 1788, New York remained the national capital. Pierre L'Enfant was commissioned to remodel City Hall for the new federal government, when it was renamed as Federal Hall.. The First Congress met in the new Federal Hall and wrote the Bill of Rights; George Washington was inaugurated here as President on April 30, 1789. When the capital moved to Philadelphia in 1790, the building again housed city government until 1812, at which time Federal Hall was demolished. The building that stands here now, was built in 1842 as the country's first Customs House. It was designed by Alexander Jackson Davis, one of the most important architects of his generation who worked in the classical style. His was the winning entry in an 1833 competition. In 1862, Customs moved to 55 Wall Street and the building became the U. S. Sub-Treasury. Millions of dollars of gold and silver were kept in the basement vaults until the Federal Reserve Bank replaced the Sub-Treasury system in 1920. The building is now run by the National Park Service and serves as a museum and memorial to the first President and the beginnings of the United States of America ...

4 comments:

stlouismodailyphoto said...

Nice shot of one of NYC's lesser known landmarks. It is ironic that George now gazes out at the N Y Stock Exchange across the street. My father worked at 120 Wall Street, the last one on the north side of the street by the river, so this brings back lots of memories.

Bob
St. Louis Missouri Daily Photo Blog

Anonymous said...

A very nice photograph and an excellent narrative. I read the recent book about George Washington and learned much of the information about New York that you have so skillfully presented.

Nice post.

I have some good news:

The three baby robins are on their way to Meet the World. I miss them already. It was quite an emotional experience.
Brookville Daily Photo

Brian Dubé said...

Bob, Abraham;
Thanks. I do find the historical and architectural posts fascinating to work on, though I worry it may be boring to many. It is amazing to learn about things you have taken for granted or knew nothing about, but have been exposed to for years.
Brian

Mayotic said...

I find the historical and architectural posts are the most fascinating. For some reason New York has never really marketed its history and colonial past, as Boston and Philadelphia have, maybe because we were under British control for most of the war. George Washington had his headquarters in New York at the Morris Jumel Mansion. There are other remnants out there you just need to find them on your own. Thanks for all the information.