The first City Hall of New York dates from 1641, in times of the Dutch, and was located on Pearl Street, near the East River. The second one, which was built in 1701, was located on Wall Street in what is now known as the Federal Hall National Monument. And the third one is the one you see here.
Its construction, a work of Joseph Francois Mangin and John McComb Jr., began in the early 19th century and was completed in 1812. As you can see, it is by no means sumptuous, even slightly modest, when compared with the big buildings surrounding the City Hall Park. Its façade is decorated with columns, arches and elegant windows, whereas a small dome stands in the middle with a representation of Justice.
As an anecdote, we can tell you that originally it was covered with marble, except the back, as it was believed that the city would never grow further north. Today, it is all lined with limestone. That is, on all four sides.
In addition to taking a picture from the outside, we recommend visiting it. Inside you will see some very interesting rooms, as well as historical objects and video documentation. For example, you will certainly be fascinated by the City Council Chamber, with a Victorian style featuring wooden and golden decorations, like the old British clubs. You can also access other rooms, but the City Hall's own daily hustle and bustle sometimes makes it difficult to visit it. It is completely understandable that every now and then everything gets crowded with cameras and journalists from around the world, right?
Behind the City Hall you can admire the second oldest municipal building in New York. It is the Tweed Courthouse, in a medieval Italian style, which is called after William Magear Tweed, one of the most important political leaders of the 19th century. Its construction was started in 1861 by John Kellum, but, eventually, it was finished by Leopold Eidlitz in 1881.
Currently, the building houses the city's Department of Education and, like many other buildings in New York, has served as a set for several movies, such as The Verdict.
And one last tip: If you want to buy some fresh fruit or a homemade cake, you should know that here, next to Chambers Street, a market for organic products is regularly held. In principle, it takes place on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays, although the days may vary according to the season. If you are lucky, a visit to the City Hall and Tweed Courthouse will leave you an even better taste.
