George Washington had a close relationship with NYC for more than five decades, and there are more than a dozen locations to visit where the Revolutionary War general and first US President ate, drank, slept, prayed, and made famous in other ways.
George Washington first visited New York City in 1756, en route from his home in Mt. Vernon to Boston, to confer with Britain’s military commander in the Colonies about the impending British-French war.
Twenty years later, he was the leader of the Continental Army, with headquarters in NYC and also further north, in the Hudson Valley, fighting for – and winning- independence from Britain.
At the end of the Revolutionary War, there was a triumphal march by Washington’s soldiers along the city’s wide, main north-south street known as the Broad Way.
Some history books tell us the Continental Army soldiers stopped at 13 taverns to drink toasts to each of the 13 Colonies and celebrate the new country.
Today, of course, that street is Broadway. And it continues to be the site of famous ticker tape parades for American heroes, including returning World War II soldiers, moon-walking astronauts, popular US presidents, NYC teams which win the Super Bowl or World Series, and women’s soccer teams which win the world championships.
And visiting presidents, too, including John F. Kennedy and First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy.
And the word “Broadway” has become synonymous with the best live theater on the planet. But I digress.
NYC Presidential History
There is so much history in New York City, much of it connected with US presidents, including important sites administered by the National Park Service.
New York City was the first US capital, for nearly two years, before it moved to Philadelphia and then to Washington, D.C, close to Washington’s beloved home in Mount Vernon, Virginia.
President Theodore Roosevelt was born and raised in New York City. His home on the East Side is a National Park Service site.
An ardent environmentalist and amateur archeologist, he was one of the founders of the American Museum of Natural History, and also served as NYC Police Commissioner.
President Ulysses S. Grant is buried here, alongside his wife, in what’s popularly known as Grant’s Tomb, another NPS site. The Grants retired to NYC after he left the White House.
President Donald S. Trump was born in Queens and currently lives in his private club in Florida.
President William S. (Bill) Clinton and his wife, former US Secretary of State and US Senator from New York Hillary Clinton, live one hour north of NYC in Chappaqua, in the Hudson Valley.
But let’s focus on the first US President, George Washington.
Since New York City was pretty small in those days, you can visit most, if not all of George Washington’s New York in one long day.
Federal Hall National Monument
George Washington took the Oath of Office here in 1789, and his larger-than-life statue dominates the building entrance.
The land was donated by a Dutch merchant, first to become the first City Hall for what was then called New Amsterdam and sometimes New Netherland.
After the city was taken over by the British and renamed for the Duke of York, it became an important spot for Patriots to plan the revolution.
The 1765 Stamp Act Congress was held here, to protest “taxation without representation”, the slogan that helped build popular support for the war of independence, and the building served as the first US Capitol.
The original building was demolished in 1812, after the US capital moved from NYC to Philadelphia, and then to Washington, DC. The current building dates from 1849.
In addition to soaring columns outside, 16 massive marble Corinthian columns inside support an equally impressive rotunda, and there are excellent FREE historical exhibits.
- National Parks Rangers also lead FREE guided tours.
- 26 Wall St., open year-round, Mon.-Fri., 8am-5pm except Federal holidays.
Fraunces Tavern
The family of Etienne de Lancey lived here (Delancey Street is named for him) when Samuel Fraunces took over the place in 1763 and turned it into a tavern downstairs, with rooms to rent upstairs.
Yes, George Washington slept here. It was his last residence as General before becoming President.
In 1783, he famously said goodbye to his officers in the Long Room upstairs after taking the oath of office a few blocks away, at what is now Federal Hall National Monument.
Downstairs continues to be a restaurant and bar, where you can eat traditional Colonial foods such as oysters and steak and drink traditional Colonial ciders and other grog, as well as more modern menu and bar items.
Upstairs, there’s a permanent collection of art, decorative arts and other artifacts from Colonial New York City.
- 54 Pearl St., Museum open year-round, Mon.-Sat., noon-5pm, except major holidays.
- There are FREE guided tours on Fridays at 2pm, and weekends at 1pm and 2pm
St. Paul’s Church and Churchyard
George Washington prayed here after his inaugural a few blocks away. His pew is marked and roped off.
This is Manhattan’s only remaining pre-Revolutionary War church, dating from 1764.
These days, the church is more famous for surviving unscathed from that awful day in 2011 when the World Trade Center, a few blocks away was attacked and destroyed.
The church became a refuge for First Responders, who often slept on church pews, and were served meals by an army of volunteers.
There’s a display of badges, helmets and other memorabilia left by the police, fire and other service groups from around the world who came to help.
- Broadway at Fulton St.
Trinity Church and Churchyard
The cemetery has graves dating from 1680.
One of them is Washington’s brilliant right-hand advisor and associate, Alexander Hamilton, who founded the US banking system and served as Washington’s Secretary of the Treasury.
Hamilton also founded what is now the New York Post, the oldest continuously-published newspaper in the USA, now owned by the Murdoch organization, which also owns Fox News.
Alexander Hamilton’s wife Eliza also is buried here, as is their eldest son, Philip.
Today, Hamilton’s grave is a popular tourist spot for fans of the Broadway musical.
Be sure to take the time to look towards the new World Trade Center, looking west, visible through the gravestones.
Also visit the grave of another Revolutionary Era hero, John Peter Zenger, whose passion for freedom of the press is one of the basics of the democracy that is the United States of America. He’s buried near fellow newspaper publisher Alexander Hamilton.
- Broadway and Wall St.
SEE ALSO
Where to see Hamilton in NYC, including his home.
Stone Street
Reputed to be NYC’s first paved street, still paved with the original cobblestones that were used as ballast for ships coming to New York harbor before the Revolutionary War.
We don’t know for sure, but Washington is likely to have imbibed at one of the 200+ taverns in NYC at the time. We do know he enjoyed hard cider and hard liquor, and distilled both at Mount Vernon.
Stone Street is lined with historic buildings from the 1800s, whose ground floors house old-fashioned taverns and pubs and new-fashioned boutiques.
In warm weather, this becomes a pedestrian-only street, and a lovely place to linger in warm weather when the cobblestones are covered with picnic tables.
In any season, this is a great place to finish your day with George Washington in Lower Manhattan.
- Stone Street is between Hanover Square and Coenties Slip in the Financial District
Additional places to find George Washington’s New York:
New York Historical Society
Collection include the iconic portrait of General Washington by artist John Trumbull
Federal Reserve Bank
Founded by Washington’s Secretary of the Treasury Alexander Hamilton, for its billions of dollars in gold bullion, buried beneath the street.
Morris-Jumel Mansion
Built in 1765 as the home of British officer Roger Morris, it served briefly as George Washington’s headquarters during the Revolutionary War.
It was purchased in 1810 by French businessman Stephen Jumel, whose widow Eliza married Aaron Burr in the front parlor.
It is on the National Register of Historic Places, filled with original furniture and artwork, and surrounded by a lovely park.
These days, the house is more famous as the site of “The Room Where it Happens” – Lin-Manuel Miranda, who grew up nearby, was inspired here to write the song for the hit musical Hamilton
African Burial Ground National Monument
Graves dating from the 1600s, with the remains of more than 400 souls, were discovered in the 1990s during the excavation for a skyscraper.
Also read this article by my friend and fellow history buff Rich Grant with additional details about George Washington’s New York City.
Gilbert Stuart portrait of George Washington courtesy Wikipedia
Photo of JFK ticker tape parade courtesy NY Daily News
This article was published originally on my website NYC on the Cheap, which was hacked, held for ransom and destroyed in Feb. 2022.
Some of the links in this article are to the original publication.
Most of the sites in this article are included in my NYC guidebook, available on Amazon and Barnes & Noble.
ecoXplorer Evelyn Kanter is a journalist with 20+ years of experience as a newspaper and magazine writer, radio & TV news producer & reporter, and author of guidebooks and smartphone apps – all focusing on travel, automotive, the environment and your rights as a consumer.
ecoXplorer Evelyn Kanter currently serves as President of the International Motor Press Assn. (IMPA) and is a former Board Member of the Society of American Travel Writers (SATW)
Contact me at evelyn@ecoxplorer.com.
Copyright (C) Evelyn Kanter
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