City Hall New York

City Hall from Park Row. Illustration published in 1834, in the book The History and Topography of the United States of North America by John Howard Hinton. Additional text from the book:

Above St. Paul's Church are the Park and the City Hall, situated in the centre of the city, the former containing about eleven acres, which are ornamented with much taste, and enclosed by a substantial iron railing. It furnishes a cool and fashionable resort for men of business and pleasure, after the fatigue and heat of a summer's day. On the right is the Park theatre, and on the left Park-place, on the west-side of which is Colombia College. The next street above Park-place is Murray-street, which leads to Hoboken Ferry.

Of the public buildings, the most prominent and important is the City Hall, the front of which is built of white marble. It is 216 feet long, 105 feet broad, and, including the attic story, sixty feet high. The rooms for holding the different courts of law are fitted up in a rich and expensive style. The room for holding the mayor's court contains portraits of Washington, of the different governors of the state, and of many of the most celebrated commanders of the army and navy of the United States. The foundation stone of this building was laid in 1803, and the whole finished in 1812, at an expense of 500,000 dollars. It is one of the most elegant edifices in America, and reflects great credit on the inhabitants for their munificence and taste.

City Hall from Park Row. Drawing by Charles Burton. Original title of the drawing: Mayor's Address / City Hall. It is part of the commemorative volume (1824-1825) presented by the New York Common Council to General Lafayette on the occasion of his visit to New York City in 1824. Original title: Tribute of Respect from the City of New York to General Lafayette. The Illustrious Friend of Civil Liberty. The volume includes numerous specimens of decorative and figural penmanship by Isaac F. Bragg and Christopher Hunt, elaborate page borders and vignettes, two small oval portraits of George Washington and General Lafayette by Henry Inman and Thomas Cummings, and four full page pen and ink wash drawings, executed by Charles Burton, depicting the United States Capitol building, Fort Lafayette (N.Y.), New York City Hall, and the construction of the Erie Canal. Text includes copies of addresses and resolutions prepared by the Common Council and various other organizations, including members of the New York Bar, the Society of the State Cincinnati, and the faculty of Columbia College. Bound in gold tooled morocco with silk doublures, signed at foot of spine by J.H. Sackmann, bookbinder, N.Y. Source: New-York Historical Society.