Federal Hall was the first capitol building of the United States , and was the site where George Washington was inaugurate as America 's first president in 1789 . In 1700 , it was built and named as the New York City Hall , but was renamed to Federal Hall when it became the capitol under the United States Constitution . Federal Hall , built in 1700 as New York 's City Hall , later served as the first capitol building of the United States of America under the Constitution , and was the site of George Washington 's inauguration as the first President of the United States .