Standing at this railing, on the balcony of Federal Hall in Lower Manhattan, George Washington raised his right hand on April 30, 1789, and swore to defend the Constitution. It was the nation’s first presidential inauguration. New York was then the nation’s capital. The city hired French-born architect Pierre-Charles L’Enfant to transform the old City Hall at Wall and Broad Streets into a government seat: Federal Hall. His design blended Neoclassical ornament with symbolism, including this elaborate railing featuring 13 arrows, one for each state. Prior to the inauguration, Washington stopped at the new Senate chamber before greeting the crowd of onlookers from the balcony. He took the oath of office outdoors so that the crowd could witness the historic ceremony, a tradition followed ever since (weather-permitting).