Maybe you can’t fight city hall, but you sure can visit. Located across the street from the entrance to the Brooklyn Bridge in City Hall Park, the building has been the seat of the city’s government since 1812. The original building was a marble hall with a cupola, except for the northern side, which was done in brownstone to save money on the construction.

City Hall in 1919.

In 1917 the domed tower was rebuilt after two fires severely damaged it.  Almost 40 years later, from 1954-1956 the original marble and brownstone facades were replaced with a granite base covered with limestone.  The quality of the restoration inspired critic Ada Louise Huxtable to exclaim that City Hall was now a “symbol of taste, excellence and quality not always matched by the policies inside.”

A tour, which is free, will take you into the space under the soaring rotund which is held up by 10 Corinthian columns. There is a reception space where the mayor visits with important guests, which has 12 paintings of the founding fathers by John Trumbull. With a guided tour offered by the Art Commission of the City of New York, which is also free, you can visit the grand interior of the building. Call first for reservations.

For city hall call: 212 788 6865
For Guided tours call: 311
For more information go to: http://www.nyc.gov/html/artcom/html/home/home.shtml