FEDERAL HALL National Memorial, NY,our nations first capitol
Written: Jun 11 '03 (Updated Jul 05 '03)
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Pros: Very short walk from where you get the ferry to the Statue of Liberty.
Cons: Doesn't get the respect it deserves.
The Bottom Line: Federal Hall is one of those overlooked places that holds so much history!
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| popsrocks's Full Review: Federal Hall National Memorial |
In the downtown area of Manhattan there are several historic sites. The Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, and Castle Clinton in Battery Parks are three. The last of the National Sites is Federal Hall National Monument.
Comparatively speaking this site gets very few visitors. I was there about a month ago. Once on a Friday and again the following Monday. There were never more than ten
people inside.
GETTING THERE
Just take the 1,9, r, or n train downtown to the Battery Park area. Ask where Wall street is. It happens to be a bit less than 100feet away. Wall street is now under very high security. Going into Federal you have to go through metal detector's.
Cabs and buses run through lower Manhattan too.
SO MUCH HISTORY
Over the years there have been two structures on these grounds. This was first the City Hall for New York. Later it was refurbished as the Nations First Capitol. Years later the original building was torn down and from 1834 till 1842 a new structure was built first as a customs house and then to other duties.
On this site many important things happened in the history of the US.
Before we became an independent Nation there was a famous trial that was a decidedly important win for freedom of the press. In 1735,John Peter Zinger was tried here, in City Hall, for writing about government corruption. He was acquitted.
Just 56 years later in this very same building, now Federal Hall, Freedom of the Press was established in the first ten amendments to the US Constitution in a paper known as the Bill of Rights.
In 1765 Congress issued dislike to taxes from England and were opposed to "taxation without representation."
After the Revolutionary War the First Congress met in Federal Hall and this was the first site for the capitol of the US.
On April 30th 1789, George Washington was inaugurated as the first President of the United States on a balcony of Federal Hall with thousands watching from the streets and any focal point to be found.
The Capitol was mover later to Washington DC. This building was demolished. In 1842 a new building was erected. This was first to be the Customs House. In 1862 the Building then became a sub-treasury building holding millions of dollars worth of gold and silver. It was used as such until the 1920s.
Thereafter a few different government organizations used the building until it 1939 when it was given national historic status. In 1955 it was proclaimed a National Memorial that is run by the National Parks Service.
THE BUILDING OF TODAY
Looking across the street from Wall street is the magnificent structure of todays Federal Hall. Dominating the top stairs is a huge statue of George Washington.
The building is of Greek rival period of American Architecture. It is grand looking from outside. As you enter you get the feeling of Romes grandeur in that there is a dome that is much like the Parthenon in Rome.
There are rooms of the main rotunda that are used for different purposes. The doors of the vaults are still there and in tact.
A small desk with a few shelves behind it act as the visiting center. A couple of Rangers were nearby. Nowhere have I ever experienced the Rangers as real New Yorkers as here. Their manor and speech certainly gave it away.
The rooms are quite stark. There really isn't much in them. I was directed to a room where there was a film about the history of New York as it went back and forth from Dutch to English rule and back again. I found the film not having near the volume it needed and I was in the room alone. It was not the best dialog of thirty minutes I have ever heard.
There is a second movie that is by request only. It's called Journey to Federal Hall. Maybe I should have requested it.
On display, though I never got to it, is the original bible that George Washington swore upon while giving his oath to the United States as President of the United states.
Remember, this is a national site and they do have the site stamp at the visitors desk. Be sure to collect this stamp like the others you have in the area. Use the National Parks Passport.
A BIT of DETAIL
Restrooms are found downstairs. This area is pretty cool looking.
A few books, and postcards can be purchased at the Ranger's desk. It is open most days but not all national holidays of the year between 9:ooam and 4:oo pm.
Tours can be arranged by a ranger.
On September 11th this was a place where about 150 people flocked to for refuge as the towers collapsed. The dust, dirt, and debris was unimaginable. They were given comfort and when they left to try and go home they were given masks for the walk. The building continued on as a sort of help center for a couple of months to come. Fireman and rescuers stopped there for some rest between shifts.
Due to vibrations of the collapse of the twin towers a crack in one of the supporting walls opened up a bit. The park service said it would have to be taken care of in order to help preserve the site for generations to come.
Just last night our friends and neighbors from across the street were over in our backyard for a sort of bar-b-q and feast of fish. We spent five hours eating, talking and I suppose consuming a bit of wine. At this point nothing was mentioned about Federal Hall.
In our conversation they mentioned their son, who has been studying and applying his archeological skills in the New York area, was very recently down in the very depths of Federal Hall checking out the structure and looking for historic finds. If I do find out a bit more of his "dig", I will update this review.
A FEW CLOSING NOTES
This monument was not particularly moving to me or that inviting with things to do and learn from. At the same time, it has held so much history and it is so close to everything down town NY. It is certainly worth a short visit and be sure to take a picture of the huge statue of George Washington dominating the steps of the building.
Other reviews by Popsrocks
New York City It's a wonderful town!
The Statue of Liberty
Ellis Island
Castle Clinton National Memorial
Battery Park Home of the temporary 9/11 memorial.
The INTREPID Sea-Air-Space MUSEUMIt's a good one!
Greenwich VillageIt's Hip and Happening
TKTS half price tickets to Broadway
Aida, the Broadway Play Great show at half price
Central Park
Stardust DinerA great place for before a show in Times Square. Aspiring actors are here.
Sylvia's, a southern soul restaurant in Harlem
New York State
Millenium Hilton., directly across from ground zero. They have reopened!
Passport to the National Parks Collecting National Parks!
Something is Missing A Tribute to the good people and the twin towers that were lost on 9/11
http://www.epinions.com/content_3161628804
Recommended:
Yes
Best time to go: Anytime
Recommended for: Anybody
Review Topic: Overview
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