New York City Council - About City Hall

About the City Council :: About City Hall

In the original plans for a new City Hall in 1802, the main City Council Chamber was assigned for use as the Criminal Court. The Council at the time met in what was the Board of Estimate’s Committee-of-the-Whole Room.

In 1831, as a result of a new charter requiring an enlarged Council, the present Council Committee Room, then used as the Court of Sessions, was acquired. The sum of $300 was

appropriated for painting and $1,300 for furniture and draperies. In 1897, the Mayor’s Court Room, the Criminal Court and a hallway were joined and redesigned to form what is now the Council Chamber. John Duncun, the architect of Grant’s Tomb, is credited for this modification and for the Chamber’s mahogany paneling and decorative overlay details.

The 41’5” by 23’10” oval ceiling mural, the work of Taber Sears, George W. Breck and Frederic C. Martin, was installed in 1903. It is titled “New York City Receiving the Tributes of the Nation.” The portrait of George Washington is a copy of Gilbert Stuart’s “Washington at Dorchester Heights.” The Moses M. Sweet work was commissioned by Mrs. George Endicott and purchased by the city in 1849 for $300.

The portrait of the Marquis de Lafayette is by Samuel Finley Breese Morse, the inventor of the telegraph. The painting, commissioned by the City Council, was done from life during Lafayette’s visit to America in 1826 at a cost of between $700 and $1,000. It was the most prized commission of the day. The portrait is internationally famous as the finest likeness of Lafayette in existence.

The statue of Thomas Jefferson is the original plaster sketch model from which Pierre Jean David D’Angers made his own bronze statue of Jefferson which is displayed in the United States Capitol in Washington.

The History of the Red Room
The Red Room is the site of City Council press conferences. Until the late-1980s, the Red Room was the Council President's office. When the position was changed to Public Advocate and moved to another office, the room was converted into a work space for reporters.

In the mid-1990s, the during the filming of the motion picture 'City Hall' the Red Room was transformed into a movie set, using the space to film press conference scenes. The room was decorated in a red theme, including the carpet and curtains. After the filming, the City Council began using the Red Room to hold press conferences.

The History of the City Hall

1000	Manhattan, Canarsee, Hackensack and Rockaway Indians occupy lands now known as New York City.
1524	Giovanni DaVerrazano (for France) enters Narrows.
1525	Estavan Gomez (for Spain) sails along shoreline.
1609	Henry Hudson (for Netherlands) lands party to explore Manhattan.
1613	Adrian Block builds four trading houses on Manhattan.
1625	Town of Nieuw Amsterdam becomes seat of government for Nieuw Netherlands. Peter Minuit appointed first Director-General by Dutch West India Company.
1626	Minuit purchases Manhattan Island from Indians.
1635	Dutch build Fort Amsterdam.
1636	“Breukelen” colonized.
1639	Colonists, arriving from Holland, sent to Staten Island by deVries.
1648	First fire wardens appointed.
1653	City’s first tavern (site of 73 Pearl Street) becomes site of first city hall.
1654	“Vlissingen” (Flushing) founded.
1658	Nieuw Harlem founded at Montagne’s Point.
1664	Peter Stuyvesant turns town and fort over to British. Nieuw Amsterdam is renamed New York.
1665	Thomas Willet appointed first mayor (one year term).
1670	Gov. Francis Lovelace purchased Staten Island from the Indians. This was the final deed; earlier ones had been repudiated by the Indians.
1673	City recaptured by Dutch, renamed Nieuw Orange.
1674	Nieuw Orange ceded to England, Province and City are renamed New York.
1683	City divided into six wards, each with an alderman.
1686	Dongan Charter granted by King James II.
1693	First printing press set up by William Bradford.
1700	New City Hall completed at Broad and Wall Streets (site of Federal Hall)
1725	New York Gazette, City’s first newspaper, published.
1730	Montgomerie Charter increases municipal powers.
1736	Alms house established.
1762	First street lamps installed with City funds.
1765	Stamp Act Congress held at City Hall.
1770	Jan. 19 Battle of Golden Hill, first conflict of Revolution.
1774	“Tea Party” in New York Harbor.
1775	First Provincial Congress met in New York; Staten Island was represented by five delegates.
1776	Aug. 27 Battle of Long Island; Sept. 11 Conference in the Billopp House between Franklin, Rutledge, Adams and Lord Howe; Sept. 16 Battle of Harlem Heights; Oct. 16 Battle of Pell’s Point; Nov. 16 New York City occupied by British.
1783	Evacuation Day. New York City returns to American control.
1784	Governor appoints a mayor. Common Council meets. City seal presented.
1785	New York City becomes state capital (until 1789) and national capital (until 1790).
1788	City Hall becomes Federal Hall.
1789	George Washington takes oath of office at Federal Hall as first President of the United States. Alms house reorganized as Belleview Hospital.
1799	State of New York acquired thirty acres of the Duxbury Glebe for a quarantine.
1812	Present City Hall completed.
1827	July 4 Celebration in honor of the abolition of slavery on Staten Island.
1832	First horse railroad starts on Fourth Avenue.
1834	City of Brooklyn established including towns of Williamsburg, Utrecht, Flatlands, Bushwick and Flatbush.
1844	First uniformed police force organized.
1846	First telegraph line opened, New York to Philadelphia.
1847	A “free academy” established, later City College.
1848	First piping of water to city via Highbridge from Croton system.
1853	World’s Fair held at Crystal Palace (near 40th Street and 5th Avenue).
1856	Land purchased for Central Park.
1865	First paid Fire Department organized.
1867	Single track elevated railroad begins from Battery to 13th Street.
1871	Explosion of the Ferryboat “Westfield”.
1874	Morrisania, West Farms and Kingsbridge annexed to City.
1883	Brooklyn Bridge opens.
1886	Statue of Liberty unveiled.
1895	Part of Pelham and Wakefield annexed to City.
1898	Act of Consolidation. City of Brooklyn, all of Staten Island and area that is now Queens become part of the City of New York.
1903	Williamsburg Bridge opens.
1904	First subway begins operation.
1914	Bronx County, the 62nd and last county of New York State, is established.
1915	City adopts new flag. Catskill Water Works supply city water.
1924	Democratic National Convention meets in New York City.
1927	Holland Tunnel opens.
1929	Multiple Dwelling Law passed.
1930	Miller Highway along Hudson River opens.
1931	George Washington Bridge, Floyd Bennett Field (first municipal airport) begin operations.
1932	IND subway opens.
1935	East River Drive construction begins.
1936	Triboro Bridge linking Manhattan, Bronx and Queens opens.
1937	Lincoln Tunnel opens. Delaware River water supply project begins.
1939	World’s Fair held at Flushing Meadows (1939-40). North Beach Airport (LaGuardia) dedicated; Bronx-Whitestone Bridge opens.
1940	BMT, IRT acquired by City, unifying the rapid transit system.
1948	New York International Airport (JFK) opens.
1951	United Nations Headquarters completed at UN Plaza.
1956	New York Coliseum begins operations. First commercial city heliport constructed at 30th Street. Restoration project at City Hall.
1960	New comprehensive zoning resolutions adopted.
1961	Charter revisions approved by voters. Throgs Neck Bridge opens.
1964	Verrazano-Narrows Bridge opens. World’s Fair held at Flushing Meadows (1964-65)
1968	New Building Code adopted (Local Law 73)
1972	South Street Seaport restoration established.
1973	Police Headquarters opens at Police Plaza. Consolidated Passenger Ship Terminal opens at Piers 88-90. World Trade Center dedicated.
1975	Charter revisions approved by voters. Fiscal Problems arise.
1976	May 18 City’s first aerial tramway, connecting Roosevelt Island with Manhattan, begins operations.
1983	Recovery from ’75 fiscal crisis marked by successful issuance of city notes.
1989	Amended Charter issued: City Council redistricted and enlarged to 51 Members; Public Advocate made an elected office; Board of Estimate disbanded, its functions split between City Council and Procurement Policy Board.
2001	Sept. 11 World Trade Center destroyed by terrorists. Nearly 3,000 people killed.
2002	May 30 Ground Zero recovery effort completed several months ahead of schedule.