George Washington took the presidential oath at Federal Hall in New York City in 1789.
The first presidential inauguration occurred on April 30, 1789, nearly two months after Washington's term officially began. Federal Hall stood on Wall Street and served as the meeting place of the first United States Congress. Washington took the oath on its second-floor balcony before a large public crowd.
Robert R. Livingston, the chancellor of New York, administered the oath. Washington then delivered his inaugural address to Congress, expressing concern about the responsibilities of the new government. John Adams had already begun serving as vice president and presided over the Senate.
Federal Hall was demolished in 1812, and the present Federal Hall National Memorial occupies a nearby site. The building is sometimes confused with the White House, but the executive residence in Washington, D.C., was not yet the setting for presidential inaugurations. Washington's ceremony took place while New York City was the temporary national capital.