Rotunda of the U. S. Customs building, now Federal Hall National Memorial

The George Washington Inaugural Gallery museum is housed in the former United States Customs House that was built between 1834 and 1842. It stands on the site of Federal Hall, which was the U.S. Capitol building when George Washington was inaugurated as the first President of the United States on April 30, 1789. Federal Hall was torn down in 1812, and the Customs House took its place at 29 Wall Street a few decades later. It has served as a museum since 1939.

Visitors to Federal Hall National Memorial can peruse the exhibits in the Washington Inauguration Gallery Museum and other exhibit areas inside the Customs House on their own or take a Ranger-guided tour that is held twice a day, currently at 10 AM and 2 PM. Tours last about a half hour. Keep in mind that times can always change, so be sure to get the current schedule on the National Park Service’s official Operating Hours and Seasons web page for Federal Hall. The only thing to be aware of regarding the tours is that if you have a group of 10 to 30 people, you must make a reservation at least two weeks in advance. Call (212) 825-6990 for more information.

When I first heard about the guided tours, I couldn’t really imagine what a tour could consist of, for after all, Federal Hall isn’t really Federal Hall. Was this to be a tour of the 1842 Customs House? As it turns out, the term guided tour should really be lecture or Ranger talk, for what the tour consists of is a Ranger taking a group around to some of the various rooms now used as museum galleries while discussing the American Revolution, Federal Hall’s role in the early government, and what happened to the building after the capital was moved to Philadelphia. In truth, the talk could have been given in the rotunda, and the end result would have been the same. Thus, if you can catch a tour, I definitely recommend it, but don’t schedule your day around one. The printed materials and exhibits in the museum give a perfectly fine overview of Federal Hall and its history. Also keep in mind that you can talk with a Ranger about the building and Washington’s inauguration at anytime during your visit.

View of the Custom House rotunda from the second floor, Federal Hall National Memorial

Upon entering the Custom House, you will find yourself in a massive rotunda. While the museum galleries are in rooms located down the main hallway, there are a few items of note in the rotunda, including the most important artifact in the building, a slab of the Federal Hall balcony that George Washington stood on when he was inaugurated. Yes, when the original Federal Hall was being torn down, somebody had the foresight to save part of the balcony.

Part of the balcony on which George Washington stood when being sworn in as first President of the United States on display inside Federal Hall National Memorial

Outside the building is a statue of George Washington that supposedly marks the approximate position and height of the balcony. Most people don’t realize this and only think of it as another George Washington statue.

George Washington statue near the entrance of the former Customs House, now Federal Hall National Memorial

There are also two bank vaults on the rotunda that are furnished to reflect the building’s connection to storing money, both when it was a U.S. Customs House and later in 1862 when President Abraham Lincoln turned the building over to the U.S. Independent Treasury System for storing gold and silver coins as well as paper money (which was first issued in 1861). One vault is decked out as a bank vault while the other holds an assortment of commercial goods. In reality, the vaults would have held money even in the Custom House days, for goods remained either on the ship or were offloaded into warehouses or onto wagons or trains for transportation. The owner of the imported goods or a company representative came to the Customs House to pay the import taxes, which were the main source of revenue for the United States government before income taxes were established in 1913.

Vault on the rotunda of the U.S. Customs House, which now serves as Federal Hall National Memorial

Located on the main hallway of the Customs House are Federal Hall National Memorial’s Visitor Center, the Washington Inaugural Gallery Museum, the John Peter Zenger Gallery, and an exhibit room with old maps and architectural drawings of Federal Hall and the Customs House.

Main hall of the U. S. Customs House in New York, which is now the site of Federal Hall National Memorial

Of course, being Federal Hall National Memorial, the main room of interest is the Washington Inaugural Gallery Museum. Here visitors can see the bible used by George Washington during the ceremony. The story goes that when it came time for the inauguration to begin, there was no bible available. Thus, officials borrowed one from the nearby St. John’s Masonic Lodge No. 1 since it was the closest source with a bible. Others argue that since St. John’s was not associated with a particular religion, Washington chose to borrow its bible so not to unofficially endorse any one religion. The bible still belongs to St. John’s Lodge and is on loan for display at Federal Hall National Memorial. However, St. John’s uses it for special events from time to time, so if you are coming to Federal Hall specifically to see the bible, be sure to call and ask if it is currently on display: (212) 825-6990. It was there when I visited in 2017 but not when I visited in 2025.

Bible used in George Washington’s inauguration on display at Federal Hall National Memorial

The other major inauguration artifact in the museum is a piece of the railing from the Federal Hall balcony, probably courtesy of the same guy who had the foresight to save a slab of the balcony floor.

Piece of the railing from the balcony on which George Washington stood when being sworn in as first President of the United States on display inside Federal Hall National Memorial

There is also a miniature diorama depicting the procession from Washington’s New York home on Cherry Street near today’s Brooklyn Bridge to Federal Hall on the day of the inauguration.

Inauguration procession exhibit in the Washington Inaugural Gallery Museum at Federal Hall National Memorial

The focus of the John Peter Zenger Gallery is the 1735 trial of John Zenger that was held in the building during Colonial times when it was still the New York City Hall. A courtroom was located on the second floor. Zenger was a newspaper publisher who reported unfavorably about the Royal Governor William Cosby and was brought up on libel charges. He was found innocent, and his case helped set the precedent for freedom of the press. On display in the gallery is a collection of antique printing equipment and information about the trial.

Printing press and other equipment in the John Peter Zenger Gallery at Federal Hall National Memorial

Also in the room are models of New York City Hall in 1703, Federal Hall in 1789, and the Customs House in 1842. What later became known as Federal Hall opened in 1703 as a city hall to house the British royal governor’s council and assembly. It became the United States Capitol Building in 1785 when the country was still governed by the Articles of Confederation. In 1788, work began on an expansion and remodeling of the building, and it was renamed Federal Hall. This is where Washington was inaugurated in 1789. New York City was the capital of the United States only until 1790, and after that the building returned to being a city government building until it was torn down in 1812 after a new City Hall had been constructed. Thirty years later, a customs house was built on the site. This is the building that stands today.

Models of Federal Hall and the Customs House on display in the John Peter Zenger Gallery at Federal Hall National Memorial

A third exhibit room contains old maps and architectural drawings of Federal Hall and the Customs House, a replica of George Washington’s desk that he used when president (the original is in the current City Hall of New York), and the 1899 oil painting by Ramon de Elorriaga, The Inauguration of George Washington.

The Inauguration of George Washington oil painting on display at Federal Hall National Memorial

Replica of George Washington’s presidential desk on display at Federal Hall National Memorial

The National Park Service recommends allotting a half hour for a visit to Federal Hall National Memorial, which will do fine for most people. However, a thorough visit takes about two hours. This is essentially a museum, so time spent at the park all depends on your interest in the subject matter. Most visitors tend to enter the building out of curiosity, spend a few minutes looking around, and then leave. Nobody is aware that tours exist, and most people who join one do so simply because they walked in just as one was beginning. I was the only person on the tour I went on despite it being a few days after the Fourth of July when the summer season was in full swing.

Tourists taking a photo at the George Washington statue outside Federal Hall National Memorial

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