Seemingly tiny skyscrapers in the background building, decorated with classic marble portico, the historical wall street. Federal hall is the embodied history of the United States.

In 1700 there was built the city hall of new York, and in 1735, the building hosted the trial, the results of which influenced the U.S. Constitution. Trial of publisher John Peter Zenger that in his newspaper the "new York weekly" sharply criticized the British Governor (it was before independence). Zenger was accused of defamation, the publisher also proved that he adhered strictly to the facts. The prosecution argued that the publication of the ugly facts about the activities of the Royal official is itself defamation. But the jury of sengera justified. It is believed that this process laid the foundations of a free press.

In 1765, delegates from nine British colonies met in this building, to make demands of the colonies to king George III. Here from 1785 to 1789 was the seat of the newly formed Congress of the United States, there was taken the decision on reception in new state areas of future States of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan and Wisconsin.

In 1788 the building was rebuilt by the architect Pierre Charles Langfang – later he was designing a new capital on the Potomac. The renovated building called Federal hall, there was held the first Congress of the United States. Here in 1789 took place the inauguration of the first President, George Washington. Finally, there was adopted the bill of rights – first ten amendments to the Constitution which guaranteed freedom of Americans and limiting the power of the state. The most famous of them – the first amendment explicitly prohibiting the restriction of freedom of speech and people's right to peaceful Assembly, and the second, which affirms the right of Americans to bear arms.

Then the capital moved to Philadelphia, in 1812, the building was demolished, but by 1842 was rebuilt. Was located there and custom, then the Treasury (basements Federal hall then kept gold and silver). In 1920 across the street from the building, the terrorists detonated the explosive-Laden horse-tram car – killed 38 people. A powerful explosion didn't hurt standing in front of the entrance a bronze statue of George Washington by sculptor John Quincy Adams ward.

Now the building is a national memorial dedicated to the events that took place in Federal hall. Here you can see the very Bible on which the oath is the first U.S. President George Washington. The separate exposition tells about the trial of publisher John Peter Singaram – court, which began with a public burning of copies of the newspaper, and ended with the decision of the jury that in America the press is free.