New York City Hall

The historic New York City Hall about the 1840s. Hand color lithograph by Nathaniel Currier, the publisher. Source: Digital Commonwealth.

The old City Hall was built on Wall Street between 1699 and 1700. It was later transformed into Federal Hall, in the late 18th century, when New York City became the capital of the United States of America.

The present New York City Hall opened in 1812. It was designed by John McComb Jr. and Joseph Mangin. Several other government institutions were brought to the area surrounding the City Hall in the following decades, which became the current Civic Center. The City Hall building was renovated a few times and it was designated a national historic landmark in 1960.