Capitals of the United Colonies & States of America
Philadelphia | Sept. 5, 1774 to Oct. 24, 1774 | |
Philadelphia | May 10, 1775 to Dec. 12, 1776 | |
Baltimore | Dec. 20, 1776 to Feb. 27, 1777 | |
Philadelphia | March 4, 1777 to Sept. 18, 1777 | |
Lancaster | September 27, 1777 | |
York | Sept. 30, 1777 to June 27, 1778 | |
Philadelphia | July 2, 1778 to June 21, 1783 | |
Princeton | June 30, 1783 to Nov. 4, 1783 | |
Annapolis | Nov. 26, 1783 to Aug. 19, 1784 | |
Trenton | Nov. 1, 1784 to Dec. 24, 1784 | |
New York City | Jan. 11, 1785 to Nov. 13, 1788 | |
New York City | October 6, 1788 to March 3,1789 | |
New York City | March 3,1789 to August 12, 1790 | |
Philadelphia | Dec. 6,1790 to May 14, 1800 | |
Washington DC | November 17,1800 to Present |
Throughout its early history, the United Colonies and later the United States of America had nine different cities and towns serve as seats of government.[1] Although these locations are often called "Capitals," the various Congresses of the United Colonies and United States actually convened in a total of 18 different buildings from September 5, 1774, to the present. What follows is a historical overview of each location that served as a Congressional Seat of Government during the founding period of the United States, highlighting the role these sites played in shaping the early republic.
Each of these sites reflects the challenges and changes of the period, as Congress was forced to relocate due to military threats, health concerns, or logistical reasons. Together, these historic locations provide insight into the evolution of the nation's government from its colonial beginnings to its establishment as an independent republic.
The
First American United Republic
United Colonies of North America Seats of United
Sept. 5, 1774 to July 1, 1776
Sept. 5, 1774 to July 1, 1776
Philadelphia
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Sept. 1, 1774 - Caucus Only
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City Tavern
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Philadelphia
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Sept. 5, 1774 to Oct. 24, 1774
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Carpenters’ Hall
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Philadelphia
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May 10, 1775 to July 1, 1776
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Pennsylvania State House
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First United American Republic: United Colonies of North America: 13 British Colonies United in Congress was founded by 12 colonies on September 5th, 1774 (Georgia joined in 1775) and governed through a British Colonial Continental Congress. Peyton Randolph and George Washington served, respectively, as the Republic's first President and Commander-in-Chief;
City Tavern
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
September 1, 1774 - Caucus Only
City Tavern, situated at 138 South 2nd Street at the corner of Second and Walnut Streets in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, was described by Delegate John Adams as the "most genteel tavern in America." Initially commissioned by Philadelphia’s social elite as the Merchants' Coffee House in 1773, this Federal-style brick building quickly became a prominent gathering place for political leaders, merchants, and other influential figures of the time. Throughout the Revolutionary era, it served as a hub for discussion and networking among delegates to the Continental Congress and other key figures involved in the nation’s founding.
In 1834, City Tavern sustained significant damage from a fire and eventually ceased operations as a tavern. However, in the 1970s, the building was meticulously reconstructed to its original floor plan as part of Philadelphia’s Bicentennial celebrations. Today, City Tavern operates as both a tavern and restaurant, owned by the United States Department of the Interior, offering a historically immersive dining experience that reflects its rich legacy as a social and political landmark in American history.
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National Collegiate Honors Student Sophia Semensky Student at the City Tavern holding a 1776 US National Lottery Ticket that was issued by Congress in hopes of funding the Revolutionary War effort. United States Lottery Tickets were actually sold at the City Tavern from 1776-1779. - For More information please visit NCHCPartners in the Park 2017 |
Though City Tavern did not host an official quorum of colonies, it was nevertheless the site of a pivotal caucus of congressional delegates on September 1, 1774. This gathering, attended by approximately 25 to 30 delegates, proved significant as it led to the decision to delay formal proceedings until additional delegates arrived, ensuring a fuller representation of the colonies. During this meeting, it was agreed that the delegates would reconvene on "Monday next" at 10 a.m. at City Tavern to further discuss the location for their initial formal assembly. This early consensus marked a key moment in the coordination of the First Continental Congress, setting the stage for the delegates’ unified approach to the pressing colonial issues of the time.*
*Smith, Paul H., et al., eds. Letters of Delegates to Congress, 1774-1789. 25 volumes, Washington, D.C.: Library of Congress, 1976-2000).
Carpenters’ Hall
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
September 5, 1774 – October 24, 1774
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
September 5, 1774 – October 24, 1774
Carpenters’ Hall, located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, is a four-story Georgian Colonial brick building constructed between 1770 and 1773 by the Carpenters’ Company. Designed by architect Robert Smith (1722–1777), this historic structure was designated a United States National Historic Landmark in 1970.
Carpenters’ Hall holds a significant place in American history as the site where the Continental Congress of the United Colonies first convened in 1774, laying the foundations for what would become the First United American Republic. Remarkably, the building still serves as a meeting place for the Carpenters’ Company, preserving its legacy as both a historic landmark and a working institution that witnessed the early actions toward American independence.
Pennsylvania State House
May 10, 1775 to July 1, 1776
May 10, 1775 to July 1, 1776
The Pennsylvania State House, now known as Independence Hall, is located on Chestnut Street between 5th and 6th Streets in Philadelphia. Constructed between 1732 and 1753 as the colonial government seat for the Province of Pennsylvania, this iconic red brick building was designed by builder Edmund Woolley alongside Andrew Hamilton in the classic Georgian style. The site includes two additional structures: City Hall to the east and Congress Hall to the west. It was here, on May 10, 1775, that the Continental Congress of the United Colonies first convened, marking a crucial moment in the journey toward American independence.
The
Second American Republic
United States of America Seats of Continental Congress
July 2, 1776 to February 28, 1781
United States of America Seats of Continental Congress
July 2, 1776 to February 28, 1781
Philadelphia
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July 2, 1776 to Dec. 12, 1776
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Pennsylvania State House
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Baltimore
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Dec. 20, 1776 to Feb.
27, 1777
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Henry Fite’s House
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Philadelphia
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March 4, 1777 to Sep.
18, 1777
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Pennsylvania State House
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Lancaster
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September 27, 1777
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Lancaster Court House
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York
|
Sept. 30, 1777 to June
27, 1778
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York-town Court House
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Philadelphia
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July 2, 1778 to July
19, 1778*
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College Hall* - PA
State House
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Philadelphia
|
July 19, 1778 to
February 28, 1781
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PA State House
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* True Dates Unknown
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Second United American Republic: The United States of America: 13 Independent States United in Congress was founded by 12 states on July 2nd, 1776 (New York abstained until July 9th), and governed through the United States Continental Congress. John Hancock and George Washington served, respectively, as the Republic's first President and Commander-in-Chief;
Henry Fite House
Old Congress Hall
December 20, 1776 to February 27, 1777
December 20, 1776 to February 27, 1777
In mid-December 1776, as British forces threatened a winter advance on Philadelphia, the Second Continental Congress took swift action to avoid capture, fleeing south to Baltimore. Although the local county courthouse was made available as a meeting site, the delegates opted instead to convene in a private residence near the waterfront. They chose the Henry Fite House, the largest building in Baltimore Town at the time, known for its spacious and well-situated accommodations.
On Friday, December 20, 1776, Congress gathered in Fite’s expansive three-story home, which also had an attic and stood prominently at the southwest corner of Sharpe and Baltimore Streets (modern-day Baltimore Street and Hopkins Place). The house's size and location provided a secure and practical setting for the Congress, allowing them to continue their work uninterrupted during this critical period in the Revolutionary War. The Henry Fite House would serve as the seat of Congress for several months, ensuring the continuity of government in a time of uncertainty and heightened risk.
Built by Jacob Fite, the Henry Fite House was, at the time, the westernmost residence in Baltimore. This impressive three-story brick building, with an attic, spanned approximately 92 feet along Market Street (now Baltimore Street) and extended 50 to 55 feet deep along the side streets. The house included a full cellar, 14 rooms (not counting the kitchen, wash-house, and additional outbuildings), as well as a stable that could accommodate up to 30 horses.
One of its notable features was a ten-window-long room equipped with two fireplaces, which provided ample space for meetings and gatherings. The Second Continental Congress signed a three-month lease for the residence at a rate of 180 pounds. Unlike the county courthouse, which was more exposed, Fite’s Tavern offered greater security from a potential British naval assault, as it lay beyond the shelling range of Royal Navy vessels should they venture up the Patapsco River. The secure and spacious accommodations of the Fite House thus made it an ideal location for the Congress during their temporary relocation to Baltimore.
Pennsylvania State House
March 4, 1777 to September 18, 1777
Following General Washington’s pivotal victories at Trenton and Princeton, the British forces strengthened their defensive lines in New Jersey and abandoned their plans to occupy Philadelphia. With the immediate threat lifted, a travel-weary Continental Congress made its return to the Pennsylvania State House on March 4, 1777, resuming its sessions in the familiar setting of Philadelphia.
Lancaster Court House
Lancaster, Pennsylvania
September 27, 1777
Lancaster, Pennsylvania
September 27, 1777
Lancaster Court House, built in 1730, was a modest brick structure measuring approximately 30 by 30 feet with a simple brick-paved floor. The building featured a small spire topped with a two-faced clock, visible from both the north and south sides. Although the original courthouse burned down in 1781 and was replaced by a larger structure in 1785, this new building is often mistakenly identified as the one used by the Continental Congress.
Congress relocated to Lancaster on September 27, 1777, in response to the British capture of Philadelphia. As British forces advanced, Congress sought a safer meeting place farther inland to continue its work uninterrupted. However, upon arriving in Lancaster, they found that space was limited. While the Continental Congress held a brief session in Lancaster Court House, Pennsylvania’s state officials, who had also fled Philadelphia, quickly required the building for their own government operations. This overlap in demand forced Congress to vacate the courthouse the following day, prompting yet another relocation. On September 28, Congress moved again, this time further west to York, Pennsylvania, where they would establish a more stable seat of government for the next nine months.
York Town Court
House
York, Pennsylvania
September 30, 1777 to June 27, 1778
September 30, 1777 to June 27, 1778
The Continental Congress relocated from Lancaster to York, Pennsylvania, on September 30, 1777, just days after briefly convening in Lancaster. Their move was necessitated by Pennsylvania state officials who also had fled Philadelphia and required the Lancaster Court House for their own governmental operations. Seeking a stable, safe location for the critical decisions facing the young nation, Congress selected York, a town further west and beyond immediate British reach.
York’s central structure, the York-Town Court House, built by William Willis in 1756, provided an ideal setting. The courthouse, a 45-by-45-foot Georgian brick building, stood in the town’s "Centre Square" at the intersection of two main 80-foot thoroughfares. It remained a prominent fixture of West Market Street until 1841. Within these walls, the Continental Congress received critical news that shaped the war effort and American diplomacy, including Washington’s defeat at Brandywine, Burgoyne’s surrender at Saratoga, and Benjamin Franklin’s diplomatic success in securing an alliance with France. The hardships endured by the Continental Army at Valley Forge also weighed heavily on the congressional sessions held here.
Most notably, it was in this courthouse that Congress debated and ultimately passed the Articles of Confederation, the first constitution of the United States, also known as the Constitution of 1777. These articles laid the groundwork for the nation’s government and marked a significant step in formalizing the United States as a unified entity.
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College Hall
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
July 2, 1778 to July 20, 1778
July 2, 1778 to July 20, 1778
College Hall -- On June 20, 1778 the news that the British had evacuated Philadelphia on the 18th reached Congress. The city was in complete celebration with barn fires, the lighting of the courthouse and fireworks. On Wednesday June 25th the Continental Congress would adjourn on the 28 and reconvene “From this place to meet at Philadelphia, on Thursday, the second of July next.”[1]
When Franklin was told that Sir William Howe had taken Philadelphia, his answer was that it was more likely that Philadelphia had taken Sir William Howe. There can be now no question that the stay of the British army in Philadelphia in the winter and spring of 1778 was damaging to the British cause. During this occupation seven hundred of the private soldiers deserted; while the conduct of the officers was marked by a luxury in singular contrast with the stern endurance of excessive hardships shown by Washington and those who served under him at Valley Forge. [2]
The Continental Congress was unable to form a quorum at the Philadelphia State House on July 2. The Journals report, “According to adjournment, the president and a number of members met at the State House in Philadelphia on Thursday the 2d of July, and adjourned from day to day, to the present.”[3] Congress finally achieved a quorum on July 7 not at the State House but at the College of Philadelphia as evidenced by signer Joseph Bartlett’s letter to John Langdon on July 13, 1778:
The Congress meets in the College Hall, as the State House was left by the enemy in a most filthy and sordid situation, as were many of the public and private buildings in the City. Some of the genteel houses were used for stables and holes cut in the parlor floors and their dung shoveled into the cellars. The country Northward of the City for several miles is one common waste, the houses burnt, the fruit trees and others cut down and carried off, fences carried away gardens and orchards destroyed. Mr. Dickenson's and Mr. Morris' fine seats all demolished-in short I could hardly find the great roads that used to pass that way. The enemy built a strong abattee with the fruit and other trees from the Delaware to Schuylkill and at about 40 or 50 rods distance along the abattue a quadrangular fort for cannon and a number of redoubts for small arms; the same on the several eminences along the Schuylkill against the City.[4]
[1] JCC, 1774-1789, Journals of the Continental Congress, June 25th, 1778.
[2] Jared Sparks, ed.,, Diplomatic Correspondence of the U.S., Washington, D.C., 1830, p. 307
[3] Ibid, July 2, 1778
[4] Jordan, John W., "Sessions of the Continental Congress held in the College of Philadelphia in July, 1778,” Pennsylvania magazine of history and biography, Volume 22. Historical Society of Pennsylvania,, p. 114
[4] Jordan, John W., "Sessions of the Continental Congress held in the College of Philadelphia in July, 1778,” Pennsylvania magazine of history and biography, Volume 22. Historical Society of Pennsylvania,, p. 114
Pennsylvania State House
July 19, 1778 to February 28, 1781
July 19, 1778 to February 28, 1781
Henry Laurens on July 15th wrote this to Rawlins
Lowdens discussing the conditions of the Pennsylvania Statehouse and the need for Congress to
utilize the College of Philadelphia for its meetings:
On that day I left York Town and arrived here the 30th-from various impediments I could not collect a sufficient number of States to form a Congress earlier than the 7th Instant; one was the offensiveness of the air in and around the State House, which the Enemy had made an Hospital and left it in a condition disgraceful to the Character of civility. Particularly they had opened a large square pit near the House, a receptacle for filth, into which they had also cast dead horses and the bodies of Men who by the mercy of death had escaped from their further cruelties. I cannot proceed to a new subject before I add a curse on their savage practices.
Congress in consequence of this disappointment have been shuffling from Meeting House to College Hall the last seven days & have not performed half the business which might and ought to have been done, in a more commodious situation. [1]
By
July 19, 1778 the Pennsylvania State House was put into good repair enabling both the
United States Continental Congress and the Pennsylvania Supreme Council to meet
as their members mandated.
[1] Edmund Cody Burnett, , Letters Of Members Of The Continental Congress, The Carnegie institution of Washington, 1926, p. 333.
The Third
American Republic
United States of America Seats of United States in Congress Assembled
March 1, 1781 to March 3, 1789
United States of America Seats of United States in Congress Assembled
March 1, 1781 to March 3, 1789
Philadelphia
|
March 1, 1781 to June 21, 1783
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PA State House
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Princeton
|
June 30, 1783 to Nov. 4, 1783
|
Nassau Hall
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Annapolis
|
Nov. 26, 1783 to Aug. 19, 1784
|
Maryland, State House
|
Trenton
|
Nov. 1, 1784 to Dec. 24, 1784
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French Arms Tavern
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New York City
|
Jan. 11, 1785 to Nov. 13, 1788
|
NY City Hall
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New York City
|
Oct. 6, 1788 to March 3, 1789
|
Walter Livingston House
|
* True Dates Unknown
|
Third United American Republic: The United States of America: A Perpetual Union was founded by 13 States on March 1st, 1781, with the enactment of the first U.S. Constitution, the Articles of Confederation, and governed through the United States in Congress Assembled. Samuel Huntington and George Washington served, respectively, as the Republic's first President and Commander-in-Chief;
Articles of Confederation Congress
United States in Congress Assembled (USCA) Sessions
United States in Congress Assembled (USCA) Sessions
USCA | Session Dates | USCA Convene Date | President(s) |
First | 03-01-1781 to 11-04-1781* | 03-02-1781 | |
Second | 11-05-1781 to 11-03-1782 | 11-05-1781 | |
Third | 11-04-1782 to 11-02-1783 | 11-04-1782 | |
Fourth | 11-03-1783 to 10-31-1784 | 11-03-1783 | |
Fifth | 11-01-1784 to 11-06-1785 | 11-29-1784 | |
Sixth | 11-07-1785 to 11-05-1786 | 11-23-1785 | |
Seventh | 11-06-1786 to 11-04-1787 | 02-02-1787 | |
Eighth | 11-05-1787 to 11-02-1788 | 01-21-1788 | |
Ninth | 11-03-1788 to 03-03-1789** | None | None |
* The Articles of Confederation was ratified by the mandated 13th State on February 2, 1781, and the dated adopted by the Continental Congress to commence the new United States in Congress Assembled government was March 1, 1781. The USCA convened under the Articles of Confederation Constitution on March 2, 1781.** On September 14, 1788, the Eighth United States in Congress Assembled resolved that March 4th, 1789, would be commencement date of the Constitution of 1787's federal government thus dissolving the USCA on March 3rd, 1789.
Pennsylvania State House
March 1, 1781 to June 21, 1783
March 1, 1781 to June 21, 1783
On March 1st, 1781 in the Pennsylvania State House, the “Perpetual Union,” known as the United States of America, became a Constitution of 1777 governmental reality. The last entry in
the old Continental Congress Journals recorded a full printing of the
Articles of Confederation, ending with signers John Walton,
Edward Telfair, and Edward Langworthy of Georgia, that began:
Articles of Confederation and perpetual Union between the states of New Hampshire, Massachusetts-bay, Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia." I. The Stile of this Confederacy shall be The United States of America.
This date marked the
birth of the Third United America
Republic: The United States of
America, A Not Quite Perpetual Union.
The
Fourth American Republic
United States Seats of the House of Representatives and Senate
March 4, 1789 to Present
Continental Congress of the United Colonies Presidents
Continental Congress of the United States Presidents
July 2, 1776 to February 28, 1781
Chart Comparing Presidential Powers - Click Here
Hosted by The New Orleans Jazz Museum and The Louisiana Historical Center
202-239-1774 | Office
Dr. Naomi and Stanley Yavneh Klos, Principals
Prospect House
Princeton, New Jersey
Not a Seat of Government
Princeton, New Jersey
Not a Seat of Government
Several
historians maintain that the USCA first convened at Colonel
George Morgan’s House, named Prospect House, when they first assembled in Princeton. I was unable to find any
record of their assembly in the 1784 USCA Journals, delegate letters,
period newspapers and magazines at Morgan’s house at Princeton University, Varnum Collins,
however, makes a compelling case that the USCA did assemble at Prospect:
The evidence favoring the view that “Prospect” was the scene of the opening meetings is more compelling in its strength. Congress had come to Princeton hastily and apparently without making any effort to ascertain definitely the practical accommodations of the village. Mr. Boudinot may have had Nassau Hall in his mind as a meeting place at the outset; but when Colonel Morgan, who was well acquainted in Congress, stated in his letter of the 25th that one of his buildings contained “a better room for them to meet in” than the members could be “immediately accommodated with elsewhere.” Mr. Boudinot probably accepted the offer as at least a temporary arrangement. Furthermore in the list of available accommodations issued in October by the citizens of Princeton, Colonel Morgan announces his willingness to have “the Congress Room” in his house fitted up for winter use if desired. It is difficult to explain this designation of any room at “Prospect” unless a previous occupation of it by Congress had given it a right to that title. Finally it is noted in a memorandum book of Charles Thomson, Secretary of Congress, that the sheet of paper bearing the record of the distribution of ten sets of the Journal was lost “in removing the Office from the House of Col. Morgan to the College.” Unfortunately, this record is dated merely “1783;” but when half of the rooms in Nassau Hall were vacant it is altogether improbable, considering the close relation existing between the Secretary of Congress and that body itself, that he should have used Colonel Morgan's house as an office if Congress were sitting in Nassau Hall. It is easier to believe that he moved his belongings over to the college building because Congress was moving also. We may, then, take it for granted that the first three meetings (June 30th, July 1st and 2d) were held in Colonel Morgan's house and that thereafter the sessions were held in the college building, in the library room presumably, except on state occasions, when they were held in the prayer-hall. The library-room which had been stripped by the British was on the north side of the second floor over the main entrance, and was about thirty by twenty-four feet in size.[1]
Additionally,
Princeton University’s website on the
Prospect House states:
Prospect House owes its name to the stone farmhouse first constructed on the site in the mid-18th century by Colonel George Morgan, western explorer, U.S. Agent for Indian Affairs and gentleman farmer. The superb eastern view from that farmhouse prompted Colonel Morgan to name his estate "Prospect." Morgan’s estate, a popular stopping off place in Revolutionary times, was visited by such diverse groups as a delegation of Delaware Indians, 2,000 mutinous soldiers of the Pennsylvania Line and the Continental Congress. When Prospect was acquired in 1849 by John Potter, a wealthy merchant from Charleston, S.C., he replaced the colonial structure with the present mansion.[2]
A letter from USCA Secretary Charles Thomson to Hannah Thomson, June 30, 1783, indicates that this is incorrect.
Dear Hannah, By nine o clock, the evening I left you, I arrived at Bristol, where I met the Minister on his return. ... Next day I started a little after three and was in the boat at Trenton ferry before Six. The ride thus far was exceedingly pleasant, the morning Serene, and the air cool and refreshing. At Trenton I shaved, washed & breakfasted ... As soon as I had breakfasted I set forward and travelling easy I arrived at Princeton about eleven. .... The town is small not much larger than Newark and the chief part of the houses small & built of wood. There are a number of genteel houses around & in the neighborhood. With respect to situation, convenience & pleasure I do not know a more agreeable spot in America. As soon as I had dressed I went to the College to meet Congress. I was conducted along an entry (which runs from one end to the other through the middle of the college) & was led up into the third story where a few members were assembled. Whether it was design or accident that led me this way, I know not. But it had the effect of raising my mortification & disgust at the Situation of Congress to the highest degree. For as I was led along the entry I passed by the chambers of the students, from whence in the sultry heat of the day issued warm steams from the beds, foul linen & dirty lodgings of the boys. I found the members extremely out of humour and dissatisfied with their situation. They are quartered upon the inhabitants who have put themselves to great inconveniencies to receive them into their houses & furnish them with lodgings, but who are not in a situation to board them. ...
According to Letters of the Delegates Editor Paul H. Smith:
This statement by Thomson disproves Varnum L. Collins' [Collins, Congress at Princeton, pp. 55-59] hitherto plausible conjecture that Congress met at George Morgan's Prospect estate between June 30, when the delegates first officially gathered to transact business in Princeton, and July 2, when they accepted the College of New Jersey's offer to use Nassau Hall as a meeting place for Congress. As Collins pointed out, Col. Morgan offered Congress the use of Prospect on June 25 and later described one of the rooms in his home as the 'Congress Room,' but Thomson's testimony that on June 30 he went 'to the College to meet Congress' clearly demonstrates that the delegates were already convened in Nassau Hall and thus could not have met at Prospect on the dates Collins surmised. Perhaps certain members of Congress met informally at Prospect before the 30th, but it is certain they did not transact any public business there." This commentary is reprinted from Eugene R. Sheridan and John M. Murrin, eds., Congress at Princeton: Being the Letters of Charles Thomson to Hannah Thomson, June-October 1783 (Princeton: Princeton University Library, 1985), p. 5. This excellent work was issued to commemorate the bicentennial of Congress' interlude at Princeton, and was made possible by Princeton University's purchase of a collection of 33 letters from Thomson to Hannah that had remained in private hands until 1983. [3]
Prospect House has thus been dismissed as a building utilized to convene the United States in Congress Assembled.
[1] Varnum Lansing Collins, , The Continental Congress at Princeton. The University library, 1908, pp. 57-58.
[2] Princeton University, Prospect House History, http://www.princeton.edu/prospecthouse/history.html, March 15, 2012.
[3] Letters of Delegates to Congress, Smith, Paul H., et al., eds. Letters of Delegates to Congress, 1774-1789. 25 volumes, Washington, D.C.: Library of Congress, 1976-2000). Charles Thomson to Hannah Thomson, June 30. 1783.
[3] Letters of Delegates to Congress, Smith, Paul H., et al., eds. Letters of Delegates to Congress, 1774-1789. 25 volumes, Washington, D.C.: Library of Congress, 1976-2000). Charles Thomson to Hannah Thomson, June 30. 1783.
Nassau Hall
Princeton, New Jersey
June 30th, 1783 to Nov. 4, 1783
Princeton, New Jersey
June 30th, 1783 to Nov. 4, 1783
The Nassau Hall structure was built
in 1756 at a cost of £2,900 for the College of New Jersey. Originally the brick-paved halls extended one
hundred and seventy-five feet of what was the largest stone structure in the
Colonies. In November, 1776, the British took possession of the building and
used it as barracks and hospital but were briefly ejected by George Washington during the Battle of Princeton. After the war
Nassau Hall, was found to
be in great disrepair with “mostly bare
partition walls and heaps of fallen plaster."[1]
An Article in the New American Magazine of 1760 reported on the building:
There are three flat-arched doors on the north side giving access by a flight of steps to the three separate entries (an entry refers here to the hallway on each floor running the full length of the building). At the center is a projecting section of five bays surmounted by a pediment with circular windows, and other decorations. The only ornamental feature above the cornice, is the cupola, standing somewhat higher than the twelve fireplace chimneys. Beyond these there are no features of distinction.
The simple interior design is shown in the plan, where a central corridor provided communication with the students' chambers and recitation rooms, the entrances, and the common prayer hall; and on the second floor, with the library over the central north entrance. The prayer hall was two stories high, measured 32 by 40 feet, and had a balcony at the north end which could be reached from the second-story entry. Partially below ground level, though dimly lighted by windows, was the cellar, which served as kitchen, dining area (beneath the prayer hall), and storeroom. In all there were probably forty rooms for the students, not including those added later in the cellar when a moat was dug to allow additional light and air into that dungeon.[2]
Secretary USCA writes of the first Session of Congress, June 30th, 1783, in Nassau Hall in a letter to his wife Hannah:
Later, the USCA regular sessions met in Nassau Hall’s library room, which was located over the front entrance. For official dignitary occasions, it adjourned to the chapel on the main floor. The move of the capital from Philadelphia to the College of New Jersey was a boom for the Princeton economy.
Dear Hannah, By nine o clock, the evening I left you, I arrived at Bristol, where I met the Minister on his return. ... Next day I started a little after three and was in the boat at Trenton ferry before Six. The ride thus far was exceedingly pleasant, the morning Serene, and the air cool and refreshing. At Trenton I shaved, washed & breakfasted ... As soon as I had breakfasted I set forward and travelling easy I arrived at Princeton about eleven. .... The town is small not much larger than Newark and the chief part of the houses small & built of wood. There are a number of genteel houses around & in the neighborhood. With respect to situation, convenience & pleasure I do not know a more agreeable spot in America. As soon as I had dressed I went to the College to meet Congress. I was conducted along an entry (which runs from one end to the other through the middle of the college) & was led up into the third story where a few members were assembled. Whether it was design or accident that led me this way, I know not. But it had the effect of raising my mortification & disgust at the Situation of Congress to the highest degree. For as I was led along the entry I passed by the chambers of the students, from whence in the sultry heat of the day issued warm steams from the beds, foul linen & dirty lodgings of the boys. I found the members extremely out of humour and dissatisfied with their situation. They are quartered upon the inhabitants who have put themselves to great inconveniencies to receive them into their houses & furnish them with lodgings, but who are not in a situation to board them. ... [3]
Later, the USCA regular sessions met in Nassau Hall’s library room, which was located over the front entrance. For official dignitary occasions, it adjourned to the chapel on the main floor. The move of the capital from Philadelphia to the College of New Jersey was a boom for the Princeton economy.
It had leaped at a bound into national importance; from a “little obscure village” it had within the week “become the capital of America.” And where the “almost perfect silence” of a country hamlet was wont to reign, now nothing was “to be seen or heard but the passing and rattling of wagons, coaches and chairs.” To supply the metropolitan taste of Congressmen the produce of Philadelphia markets was brought up every week, with the result that the village street now echoed to the unfamiliar “crying about of pineapples, oranges, lemons, and every luxurious article both foreign and domestic.”[4]
[1] Varnum Lansing Collins, , Princeton. New York:Oxford University Press, 1914, p. 82
[2] Henry L Savage,., ed., Nassau Halls, 1756-1956, Princeton: Princeton University Press,, 1956. .
[3] Letters of Delegates to Congress, Smith, Paul H., et al., eds. Letters of Delegates to Congress, 1774-1789. 25 volumes, Washington, D.C.: Library of Congress, 1976-2000). Charles Thomson to Hannah Thomson, June 30. 1783.
[4] Collins, op.cit., p. 57 references a letter of Ashbel Green, a senior in college, to his father, July 5th, 1783 cited in H. C. Alexander, Life of J. A. Alexander (1870), Vol. I, p. 16, as well as the Independent Gazeteer of November 1st, 1783.
Maryland State House
Annapolis, Maryland
November 26, 1783 to August 19, 1784
Annapolis, Maryland
November 26, 1783 to August 19, 1784
The Maryland State House was designed by Joseph Horatio Anderson in 1771. Its construction began in 1772 but was not completed until 1779 due to the struggle for Independence. The building was constructed in red brick Georgian style with a small portico projecting out from the center crowned by a pediment. The State House entrance is accented with two high arched windows that complement the large rectangular windows on both stories lining the façade. A cornice above the windows is topped by another pediment and the sloping roof gives way for a central octagonal drum atop which rests a distinctive dome. The great dome is topped by a balustrade balcony, another octagonal drum and a lantern. The Interior of the Dome, from floor to ceiling, is 113' with the building itself encompassing 120,900 square feet under roof. It is the oldest American State Capitol still in continuous legislative use. Here on February 2, 1781, the Maryland legislature ratified the Articles of Confederation thus dissolving the old U.S. Continental Congress government.
French Arms
Tavern
Trenton, New Jersey
November 1, 1784 to December 24, 1784
Trenton, New Jersey
November 1, 1784 to December 24, 1784
The USCA assembled in the French Arms Tavern that was erected in 1730 as a private
residence of stone and stucco. The
building was two stories high, with a gabled roof that measuring 45 feet in
width and 43 feet in depth plus a narrower extension in the rear. The house stood on the southwest corner of
King (now Warren) Street and Second (now State) Street in Trenton, New Jersey.
The rear extension on the Second Street side served as kitchen and
servant's quarters. The building was owned by John Dagworthy until his death in
1756. For two years during this period, from 1740 to 1742, it was the official
residence of Governor Lewis Morris. In 1760 it was sold to Samuel Henry, an
iron manufacturer, who made it his residence until he leased the property to
Jacob G. Bergen in 1780 for use as a tavern.
Before opening the tavern, which he named "Thirteen Stars," Bergen made
extensive changes in the building. He added a third story, with a gabled,
dormer-windowed roof; converted two of the first-floor rooms into one room 20
feet in width and 43 feet in length, which became known as the "Long Room;" and set up a
barroom in the basement. In 1783 the building was described as a "Dwelling-house 45 by 43 Feet, 3
Stories, 11 Rooms, eight with Fireplaces, a Kitchen and Stabling for 12
Horses." The Building’s name
later changed to the French Arms
celebrating France’s role in the defeat of Cornwallis
at Yorktown when John Cape took over the tavern’s management. Bergen returned to the tavern in 1783 and
retained the French Arms name.
In 1784 a commission appointed by the New Jersey Legislature leased the tavern, which was still
the largest building in town, for the use of the USCA. The Long
room walls were repapered, the floors were carpeted and a platform erected in
the center of the south side of the room between the two fireplaces. Thirteen
new tables covered with green cloth and forty-eight new Windsor chairs were
provided for the delegates.[1]
The USCA stay at Trenton was brief and most of its time was spent in
appealing to the states to send delegates.
[1] Godfrey, The Mechanics Bank, pp. 25-6.
Old New York City Hall
New York City, New York
January 11, 1785 to November 13, 1788
New York City, New York
January 11, 1785 to November 13, 1788
Old New York City Hall, the capitol
building that housed the USCA was eighty-five years old
in 1785. In January, 1698, a committee was appointed to
report on the necessity of a new building for New York’s governmental
offices. A new structure was recommended
at a site “opposite the upper end of
Broad St.” The committee
contracted James Evetts and his subsequent design was presented and approved by
the colonial government. To fund the
construction, the old city hall, “excluding
the bell, the King's arms, and the iron-work belonging to the prison,”[1]
were sold at public auction to a merchant, John Hodman, for the sum of £920.
The cage, pillory, and stocks, however, remained in front of the old building
for a year afterwards while the new structure was being built. The foundation stone of the building was
laid, with some ceremony, in August 1699 as evidenced by a warrant drawn for
paying the expense incurred on that occasion.
March 1700 records indicate the Colonial Common Council contracted with
William Mumford to carve the King's, Colonial Governor Lord Bellamont’s and
Lieutenant-Governor, Captain Nanfan’s arms of
the size of the three blank squares left in the front of the City Hall for that
purpose.[2]
Moldings of stone were required to be made around each coat-of-arms, each
to be cut on one stone, unless a stone sufficiently large for the King's arms
could not be procured, in which case two stones might be used. The contract
called from them to be completed within six months and Mumford was to receive forty-one
pounds four shillings. The building,
thus, was completed in late 1700 or early 1701, although the exact date is
unknown.
In 1703, the cage, pillory, whipping-post, and stocks were removed from Coenties slip[3] and erected in the upper end of Broad Street, a little below the New City Hall. In 1715, Mr. Stephen Delancy, a “liberal and wealthy merchant”, presented the city with fifty pounds, which he had received as his salary as representative of the city in the General Assembly. He suggested, after being asked, that the funds be used to purchase of a clock, to be placed in the cupola of the City Hall. In 1716 an agreement was accordingly made with clockmaker Joseph Phillips for its construction. It was provided, that the largest wheel of the clock should be nine inches in diameter, and that there should be two dial-plates of red cedar, painted and gilt, each to be six feet square. The price paid was sixty-five pounds.
It
was not until the year 1718 that the balcony called for in the original plans
was constructed. In 1738 it was found
that the cupola of this building was ''very
rotten and in danger of falling." The old cupola was dismantled and a
new one of the same specification was erected in its place.
 |
First Floor of New York City Hall before it was converted into Federal Hall in 1785. Federal Hall would serve as the capitol of the United States of America from January 11, 1785 to October 6, 1788 and again after renovations for the new tripartite government from March 4, 1789 to August 12, 1790. |
In 1763, which was a
period when improvements, both private and public, were greatly encouraged in
the city, the City Hall, now 63 three years old, was altered and improved, at
very considerable expense. The colonial committee of the Common Council
approved a plan of "alterations and
ornaments '' to the building and to defray the computed cost of three
thousand pounds, a lottery was established. Among other improvements, the
building was made higher, and roofed with copper procured from England. The
balcony in the front of the building was extended out to range with the two
wings. A cupola of more imposing dimensions was raised upon the building, along
with a bell of larger dimensions than the old one.
 |
Second Floor of New York City Hall before it was converted into Federal Hall in 1785. Federal Hall would serve as the capitol of the United States of America from January 11, 1785 to October 6, 1788 and again after renovations for the new tripartite government from March 4, 1789 to August 12, 1790. |
 |
Third Floor of New York City Hall before it was converted into Federal Hall in 1785. Federal Hall would serve as the capitol of the United States of America from January 11, 1785 to October 6, 1788 and again after renovations for the new tripartite government from March 4, 1789 to August 12, 1790. |
In
January of 1785, the USCA conducted their meetings on the second floor
which was once the room of the NY Supreme Court. A room adjoining the meeting room was still
occupied “and the noise of the scholars
in their recitations was so annoying as to disturb the debates. Complaint being
made of this, the school was discontinued.” [4] This building would be the site where both
the Northwest Ordinance and the Constitution
of 1787 would
be hotly debated with the former being enacted and the latter being sent on to
the states, unchanged, for ratification.
[1] Willis, Samuel et al, The Manual of the Corporation of the City of New York. New York: Common Council, 1862, p. 538
[2] Ibid.
[3] Coenties Slip was an artificial inlet in the East
River for the loading and unloading of ships that was land-filled in 1835. New
York's first City Hall once stood at Coenties Alley and
Pearl Street, just to the north of Coenties Slip. In is now a historic pedestrian walkway.
[4] Willis, Samuel et al, NYC Manual, p. 541.
Walter Livingston House
 |
New York City Hotel Engraving, which includes on the left a portion of the Walter Livingston House, located at 95 Broadway, pictured as a four story dormered building with accented stonework on main structure’s sides, and stone slabs separating the first and second floor with a view of the front door. This Circa:1831, from the Museum of the City of New York Collection |
October 6, 1788 to March 3, 1789
95 Broadway, New York, NY
Numerous and reputable U.S. History sources list Fraunces Tavern and not the Walter Livingston House as the site chosen by Congress to relocate its offices and assembly room on October 6, 1788. Sources citing Fraunces Tavern as the last Seat of Government under the Articles of Confederation includes:
- Fortenbaugh, Robert, The nine capitals of the United States, Maple Press Co., 1948, page 78
- History.com - 8 Forgotten Capitals of the United States, July 16, 2015 By Christopher Klein (retrived August 2, 2017 - http://www.history.com/news/8-forgotten-capitals-of-the-united-states ).
- Klos, Stanley L. - The U.S. Presidency & the Forgotten Capitols, ROI.us, Publishing, 2008, page 211
- US Senate - Chronological Table of the Capitals (retrieved August 2, 2017 from https://www.senate.gov/reference/reference_item/Nine_Capitals_of_the_United_States.htm).
- Wikipedia - List of capitals in the United States, (retrieved August 2, 2017 from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_capitals_in_the_United_States).
For more visit the Walter Livingston House Site Click Here
March 4, 1789 to Present
New York City
|
March 4,1789 to August 12, 1790
|
NY City Hall
|
Philadelphia
|
December 6,1790 to May 14, 1800
|
Congress Hall
|
Washington DC
|
November 17, 1800 to Present
|
Fourth United American Republic: The United States of America: We the People was formed by 11 states on March 4th, 1789 (North Carolina and Rhode Island joined in November 1789 and May 1790, respectively), with the enactment of the U.S. Constitution of 1787. The fourth and current United States Republic governs through the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate in Congress Assembled, the U.S. President and Commander-in-Chief, and the U.S. Supreme Court. George Washington served as the Republic's first President and Commander-in-Chief..
Federal Hall
New York City, New York
March 4, 1789 to August 12, 1790
March 4, 1789 to August 12, 1790
The Federal Hall building stood on the
corner of Nassau and Wall Streets until 1812 when it was razed. It was
remodeled and enlarged in 1788 and 1789 preparing for the new tripartite
government under the direction of Pierre Charles L'Enfant. This was the first
example of Federal Style architecture in the United States. It was renamed
Federal Hall when it became the first Capitol of the United
States under the Constitution of 1787. L'Enfant would be later
selected by George Washington to design the capital city on the
Potomac River in Maryland.
Congress Hall
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
December 6, 1790 to May 14, 1800
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
December 6, 1790 to May 14, 1800
Congress Hall is located on the corner of Chestnut and 6th Streets and was originally built to serve as the Philadelphia County Courthouse. It was designed by architect Samuel Lewis and construction began in 1787 and completed in 1789. The US Congress, assembled in New York's Federal Hall, passed the An Act for establishing the temporary and permanent seat of the Government of the United States, which established a temporary U.S. Capital in Philadelphia from 1790 - 1800. It was signed into law by President George Washington on July 16th, 1790. The new Courthouse, consequently, served as the meeting place of the U. S. Congress from December 6, 1790 to May 14, 1800 with the House of Representatives meeting on the main floor, while the Senate assembled upstairs.
Among the historic events that took place here were the presidential inaugurations of George Washington (his second) and John Adams; the establishment of the First Bank of the United States, the Federal Mint, and the Department of the Navy; and the ratification of Jay's Treaty with England. During the 19th century, the building was used by Federal and local courts. The building, inside and out, has been restored as much as possible to the period of time when the building was the U.S. Capitol.
The United
States Capital
District of Columbia Capitols
November
17, 1800 to Present
District of Columbia Capitols
 |
A view of the Thorton Capitol of Washington by William Russell Birch (1755-1834) before it was burnt down by the British. Image is from Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division |
 |
|
 |
| Brick Capitol, photograph by Matthew Brady, Circa 1865 |
The U.S. Capitol Building is located in Washington, D.C., at the eastern end of the National Mall on a plateau just under 90 feet above the level of the Potomac River. The site commands a westward view across the Capitol Reflecting Pool to the Washington Monument 1.4 miles away and the Lincoln Memorial 2.2 miles away.
 |
The earliest known photographic image of the U.S. Capitol, taken in 1846. credit: Library of Congress; photo by John Plumbe. |
The legislation enabling the federal capital to be permanently located in the District of Columbia was contentious. Article I, Section 8 of the Constitution (1787), which gave the Congress legislative authority over “such District (not exceeding ten Miles square) as may, by Cession of Particular States, and the Acceptance of Congress, become the Seat of the Government of the United States...” Treasury Secretary Alexander Hamilton was instrumental in brokering a compromise between the Southern and Northern States. The Southern States agreed that if the capital were located along the banks of the Potomac River they would permit the federal government to take on debt incurred during the American Revolutionary War.
The Architect of the
U.S. Capitol writes:
In 1788, the state of Maryland ceded to Congress "any district in this State, not exceeding ten miles square," and in 1789 the state of Virginia ceded an equivalent amount of land. In accordance with the "Residence Act" passed by Congress in 1790, President Washington in 1791 selected the area that is now the District of Columbia from the land ceded by Maryland (private landowners whose property fell within this area were compensated by a payment of £25 per acre); that ceded by Virginia was not used for the capital and was returned to Virginia in 1846. Also under the provisions of that Act, he selected three Commissioners to survey the site and oversee the design and construction of the capital city and its government buildings. The Commissioners, in turn, selected the French engineer Pierre Charles L'Enfant to plan the new city of Washington. L'Enfant's plan, which was influenced by the gardens at Versailles, arranged the city's streets and avenues in a grid overlaid with baroque diagonals; the result is a functional and aesthetic whole in which government buildings are balanced against public lawns, gardens, squares, and paths. The Capitol itself was located at the elevated east end of the Mall, on the brow of what was then called Jenkins' Hill. The site was, in L'Enfant's words, "a pedestal waiting for a monument."[1]
The legislation also
included the establishment of Philadelphia as a temporary seat of government for ten
years (1790-1800), until the nation's capital in Washington, D.C. would be
ready.
On December 19, 1960, the Capitol was declared a National Historic Landmark by the National Park Service.
The Congressional Evolution of the United States of America
For students and teachers of U.S. history, this video features Stanley and Christopher Klos presenting America's Four United Republics Curriculum at the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School. Filmed in December 2015, this video is an informal recording by an audience member capturing a presentation attended by approximately 200 students, professors, and guests. To explore the full curriculum, [download it here].
Sept. 5, 1774 to July 1, 1776
September 5, 1774 | October 22, 1774 | |
October 22, 1774 | October 26, 1774 | |
May 20, 1775 | May 24, 1775 | |
May 25, 1775 | July 1, 1776 |
Commander-in-Chief United Colonies & States of America
George Washington: June 15, 1775 - December 23, 1783
July 2, 1776 to February 28, 1781
July 2, 1776 | October 29, 1777 | |
November 1, 1777 | December 9, 1778 | |
December 10, 1778 | September 28, 1779 | |
September 29, 1779 | February 28, 1781 |
Presidents of the United States in Congress Assembled
March 1, 1781 to March 3, 1789
March 1, 1781 to March 3, 1789
March 1, 1781 | July 6, 1781 | |
July 10, 1781 | Declined Office | |
July 10, 1781 | November 4, 1781 | |
November 5, 1781 | November 3, 1782 | |
November 4, 1782 | November 2, 1783 | |
November 3, 1783 | June 3, 1784 | |
November 30, 1784 | November 22, 1785 | |
November 23, 1785 | June 5, 1786 | |
June 6, 1786 | February 1, 1787 | |
February 2, 1787 | January 21, 1788 | |
January 22, 1788 | January 21, 1789 |
Articles of Confederation Congress
United States in Congress Assembled (USCA) Sessions
United States in Congress Assembled (USCA) Sessions
USCA | Session Dates | USCA Convene Date | President(s) |
First | 03-01-1781 to 11-04-1781* | 03-02-1781 | |
Second | 11-05-1781 to 11-03-1782 | 11-05-1781 | |
Third | 11-04-1782 to 11-02-1783 | 11-04-1782 | |
Fourth | 11-03-1783 to 10-31-1784 | 11-03-1783 | |
Fifth | 11-01-1784 to 11-06-1785 | 11-29-1784 | |
Sixth | 11-07-1785 to 11-05-1786 | 11-23-1785 | |
Seventh | 11-06-1786 to 11-04-1787 | 02-02-1787 | |
Eighth | 11-05-1787 to 11-02-1788 | 01-21-1788 | |
Ninth | 11-03-1788 to 03-03-1789** | None | None |
* The Articles of Confederation was ratified by the mandated 13th State on February 2, 1781, and the dated adopted by the Continental Congress to commence the new United States in Congress Assembled government was March 1, 1781. The USCA convened under the Articles of Confederation Constitution on March 2, 1781.** On September 14, 1788, the Eighth United States in Congress Assembled resolved that March 4th, 1789, would be commencement date of the Constitution of 1787's federal government thus dissolving the USCA on March 3rd, 1789.
Presidents of the United States of America
Capitals of the United Colonies and States of America
Philadelphia | Sept. 5, 1774 to Oct. 24, 1774 | |
Philadelphia | May 10, 1775 to Dec. 12, 1776 | |
Baltimore | Dec. 20, 1776 to Feb. 27, 1777 | |
Philadelphia | March 4, 1777 to Sept. 18, 1777 | |
Lancaster | September 27, 1777 | |
York | Sept. 30, 1777 to June 27, 1778 | |
Philadelphia | July 2, 1778 to June 21, 1783 | |
Princeton | June 30, 1783 to Nov. 4, 1783 | |
Annapolis | Nov. 26, 1783 to Aug. 19, 1784 | |
Trenton | Nov. 1, 1784 to Dec. 24, 1784 | |
New York City | Jan. 11, 1785 to Nov. 13, 1788 | |
New York City | October 6, 1788 to March 3,1789 | |
New York City | March 3,1789 to August 12, 1790 | |
Philadelphia | Dec. 6,1790 to May 14, 1800 | |
Washington DC | November 17,1800 to Present |
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Edited: Open AI. (2024). ChatGPT [Large language model] - https://chatgpt.com
