The Tree of Liberty: Federal Hall

Tucked into Lower Manhattan's intimate colonial streets sits a quiet landmark, hidden in plain sight. Federal Hall may be overshadowed by its saucier neighbor, the New York Stock Exchange, but its stately form and its cultural significance make it a site worth visiting.

When New York was the nation's capitol city, Lower Manhattan saw a lot of action. The intersection of Wall, Broad, and Nassau streets is one of the most significant locations in all of the city. Here, outside of the original Federal Hall, George Washington gave his first inaugural address. On this site Congress debated and ratified the Bill of Rights, and the judiciary held the first trial over freedom of the press. After the national capital relocated to Philadelphia in 1790, the Federal Hall became New York's City Hall again. In 1812 the original building was demolished.

The Federal Hall we see today is a handsome classical revival building designed by Ithiel Town and Andrew Jackson Davis, and built in 1842 as a custom house. Town & Davis chose monumental Doric columns outside as a nod to the ideals of Greek democracy. The interior's main domed chamber, designed by John Frazee, borrows from the Roman Pantheon. After the Customs House opened at Bowling Green, the building became the sub-treasury, housing millions of gold and silver in its vaults. In 1939 the building was designated a National Historic Site, more recently it was designated an interior and exterior city landmark.


Federal Hall National Memorial is open to the public, managed by the National Park Service. Admission is free and it's open 9-5. A visit on any given day will reveal tourists snapping pictures, New Yorkers noshing on the steps below George Washington's statue.

The cool classical restraint of the Federal Hall's exterior communicates strength and permanence, the interior conveys power yet approachability. How American. After the attacks on September 11, 2001 Federal Hall's existing structural issues became pressing emergencies. The building was reinforced, restored, and reopened in 2006. Federal Hall is a beautiful expression of democratic ideals, and despite deeply unsettling days, it stands resolute.

All Photos by The Preservator.