Federal Hall National Memorial

Though few people associate NYC with America’s federal government, old Wall Street is in fact where it all began. Federal Hall served as the first US Capitol Building, the site of George Washington’s first inauguration and the place where the Bill of Rights was officially passed. Though the original building has since been demolished, the current structure—built as the US Customs House in 1842—today serves as a national memorial operated by the National Park Service. Brush up on your American History 101 at Federal Hall with a free tour (either on your own or with a guide); no reservations necessary.