National Parks: Federal Hall National Memorial

Federal Hall National Memorial

Located at 26 Wall Street

26 Wall Street was the site of New York City's 18th-century City Hall. Here John Peter Zenger was jailed, tried, and acquitted of libel for exposing government corruption in his newspaper - an early victory for freedom of the press. City Hall hosted the Stamp Act Congress, which assembled in October 1765 to protest “taxation without representation.” After the American Revolution, the Continental Congress met at City Hall and, in 1787, adopted the Northwest Ordinance, establishing procedures for creating new states.

When the Constitution was ratified in 1788, New York remained the national capital. Pierre L'Enfant was commissioned to remodel the City Hall for the new federal government. The First Congress met in the now Federal Hall and wrote the Bill of Rights. George Washington was inaugurated here as the country's first President on April 30, 1789. When the capital moved to Philadelphia in 1790, the building again housed city government until 1812, when Federal Hall was demolished.

The current structure on the site was built as a Customs House, opening in 1842. In 1862, Customs moved to 55 Wall Street, and the building became the US 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.

Exhibits/Tours: Federal Hall is open from 9 am to 5 pm Monday through Friday with the exception of all federal holiday. The site may also close or delay opening for inclement weather.

Self-guided tours are available during regular operating hours. Free guided tours are available to the public Monday through Friday at 10 am, 11 am, 1 pm, 2 pm, and 3 pm, subject to staff availability.

Getting There: Take the 4 or 5 trains to Wall Street. Exit at Wall Street and Broadway. Go east on Wall Street. Take the J or M or Z trains to the Broad Street stop. Exit at Wall and Nassau Streets. Go east on Wall Street. Take the 2 and 3 trains to Wall Street. Exit at Wall and William Streets. Go west on Wall Street. Take the 1 train to Rector Street. Exit at Rector and Greenwich Streets. Go east on Rector towards Trinity Place. Turn left on Broadway. Turn right on Wall Street. Take the R or W trains to Rector Street. Exit at Rector and Trinity Place. Go east on Rector towards Broadway. Turn left on Broadway. Turn right on Wall Street. Take the A or C trains to Fulton Street. Exit at John and Nassau Streets. Go south on Nassau towards Maiden Lane. Turn left on Wall Street.

Contact Information: (212) 825-6990 or www.nps.gov/feha