Where Washington Took the Oath: Federal Hall

On April 30, 1789, George Washington took the oath of office as the first president of the United States on the balcony of Federal Hall, the building that then stood on this corner of Wall Street. That structure is long gone, but the temple-fronted building on the site today is a National Park Service memorial, and the statue of Washington on its steps looks across at the New York Stock Exchange. Inside, exhibits trace the birth of the federal government in New York, the nation's first capital under the Constitution, beneath a domed central hall.

Admission is free. Federal Hall opens Wednesday through Sunday, and the visitor entrance is at 15 Pine Street, around the back. The self-guided exhibits take about 30 minutes, while a ranger-led program stretches the visit to an hour or two, so check the park's events calendar. When the interior is closed, the steps are still a fine place to sit with lunch and watch the Financial District rush past. Pair it with a walk down to Trinity Church at the foot of Wall Street.