Federal Hall National Memorial

In 1751, George Washington went to Barbados with his half brother Lawrence Washington. While in Barbados, he caught smallpox. On November 17, George Washington said "Was strongly attacked with the small Pox" The experience of this disease prepared him for the future.

OTD: On January 11th, 1785, the Confederation Congress convened in the old City Hall building on Wall Street. The Confederation Congress was weak. There was no executive branch. Congress could not enforce taxation. These are some of the reasons a new constitution was written.

OTD: On January 9th, 1788, Connecticut became the 9th state to ratify the Constitution of the United States. After the constitution was drafted in Philadelphia in 1787, the states had to ratify it with a 128 to 40 vote.

OTD: On January 6th, 1759, George Washington got married to Martha Dandridge. This was Martha's second marriage. She was a widow.

James Duane was mayor of New York City from 1784 to 1789. This was the same period when the national government under the Articles of Confederation and the United States Constitution was in the city.

Federal Hall National Memorial will be closed on January 1st. Happy New Year! We will resume normal hours on January 2nd.

John Adams got consumed with the idea and the debate about what to call the President of the United States. He wanted to call the President “His highness, the President of the United States of America, and Protector of the Rights of the Same.”

Come visit Federal Hall this Holiday season. We are open Monday through Friday from 10am until 5 pm. Learn about George Washington and the First Congress. See the Christmas tree in front of the New York Stock Exchange.

On Christmas night, George Washington and the Continental Army crossed the Delaware River for a surprise attack against Hessian soldiers. The battle of Trenton happened the next day. The Americans won the battle.

Federal Hall National Memorial will be closing at 3:00pm today. We will also be closed on Christmas Day. Happy Holidays everyone!

OTD: On December 23rd, 1783, George Washington resigned as Commander in Chief of the Continental Army. He officially resigned his commission to the Confederation Congress in Annapolis Maryland.

OTD: On December 18th, 1787, New Jersey becomes the third state to ratify the constitution.

OTD: On December 16th, 1835, the Great Fire of New York started. The fire began at 9:00 pm. The fire spread throughout the merchant district in Lower Manhattan. The fire destroyed businesses, homes and churches. The fire burned into the early morning hours of December 17th.

OTD: On December 14th, 1799, George Washington passed away from a throat infection. Tobias Lear was his secretary. He recorded George Washington's last words. George Washington's last words were "Tis Well".

OTD: On December 12th, 1745, Joh Jay was born. John was very accomplished. He was a founding father. John Jay was the first Chief Justice of the United States. He was also elected the governor of New York in 1796.

On March 1st, 1790, George Washington signed the Census Act. The first census started on the first Monday in August. It took 9 months to finish the census.

John Adams was inaugurated as the first Vice President of the United States on April 21st, 1789. He addressed the senate at Federal Hall. He was honored to be the Vice President and thanked the delegates for developing the constitution.

On December 6th, 1810, the New York Historical Society met at the North Court Room in City Hall on Wall Street to celebrate St. Nicholas Day. John Pintard, one of the founders of the New York Historical Society, wanted to make St. Nicholas the patron saint of New York.

OTD: On December 4th, 1783, General George Washington said goodbye to members of the Continental Army at Fraunces Tavern. He was leaving New York City to give up his commission as General of the Continental Army.

When the First Congress met in New York, 11 states ratified the Constitution. The states that did not ratify it were North Carolina and Rhode Island. North Carolina ratified the Constitution on November 21st, 1789. Rhode Island ratified the Constitution on May 29th, 1790.