George Washington took the first presidential oath of office in New York City on April 30, 1789. Chancellor Robert Livingston administered the oath at Federal Hall, then located on Wall Street.
New York City was the temporary national capital when the federal government began operating under the Constitution. Washington arrived there on April 23 after traveling from Mount Vernon, Virginia, and received public welcomes along the route. His inauguration drew a large crowd and established ceremonies later followed by other presidents.
The capital did not remain in New York. The federal government moved to Philadelphia in 1790, and Washington, D.C., became the permanent capital in 1800. The original inauguration site was later demolished, but the Federal Hall National Memorial marks the location.
Washington’s first term began with major institutions still being created. Congress established executive departments, the federal judiciary, and financial programs while the new government worked out how the Constitution would operate in practice.