Federal Hall

Federal Hall, building in Lower Manhattan, New York City, that served as first capitol of the United States under the Constitution. An earlier structure on the site, the city hall, served as U.S. capitol under the Articles of Confederation (1781–89). The building was reconstructed by Charles L'Enfant, and it was here, on April 30, 1789, that George Washington was inaugurated as first president of the United States. Philadelphia became the U.S. capitol in 1790. The present structure was built in 1842 and became a national memorial in 1955.