George Washington Bible open to the page upon which George Washington laid his hand during his first inauguration. Copyright St. John's Lodge No. 1, A.Y.M.
If you're heading to Federal Hall National Memorial in New York City and hope to spy George Washington's bible, you'll be disappointed unless you wait until later this year. National Park Service officials are putting the bible into storage while repairs are made to Federal Hall's dome and grand rotunda.
The repair project is to begin in late January and be completed by late June. During this period, the Federal Hall rotunda will be closed, and the public will only be able to access Federal Hall through the Pine Street entrance. This alternate entrance is located at 15 Pine Street, N.Y., N.Y. 10005 and is ADA accessible.
On April 30, 1789, George Washington placed his hand on the bible and took the oath of office, becoming the first President of the United States. The ceremony took place at the old City Hall (now Federal Hall National Memorial) located at 26 Wall Street, New York, N.Y. Interestingly, the Bible has also been used in the inaugurations of Presidents Warren G. Harding. Dwight D. Eisenhower, Jimmy Carter, and George H.W. Bush (whose 1989 inauguration was the bicentennial year of George Washington's).
During the inauguration of Barack Obama as the 44th president on January 20, 2009, members of the St. John's Lodge and the Washington Bible took part in a special ceremony in front of the statue of George Washington on the steps of Federal Hall to honor the momentous occasion.
The George Washington Inaugural Bible was printed in London in 1765 and loaned to him by a local Masonic Lodge, St. John's No. 1, Ancient York Masons. Members of the St. John's Lodge allow the Washington Bible to be permanently displayed in a special case in the Inaugural Gallery on the first floor of Federal Hall National Memorial when it is not in use by the Lodge or on tour.
"We are please that funding has been made available to complete these urgent repairs to this historic resource," said Federal Hall National Memorial Superintendent Shirley McKinney. "Even though the Federal Hall rotunda will be closed to the public, park rangers will still be on site and ready to offer modified tours and history talks."
The visitor center, exhibitions, restrooms, and other historic areas of the site will remain open to the public.
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Comments
Please write Bible or the Bible. I don't think you would print koran, bhagavadgita, or even tao te ching with or without a definite article. Show the same respect to the foundational sacred book, believe it or not or for that matter like it or not of our Western Civilization as you would for other books of some numinosity for other cultures. Otherwise I found the article most interesting. I've been to Federal Hall plenty of times and I don't remember ever seeing this Bible.
Go to the room in the NW corner of the main level. Another way of putting it. As you walk into Federal Hall, with the Statue of Washington behind you, go in 3/4. To the right is the flagstone upon which Washington stood. To the left is a room with the inaugural Bible.
There is an exhibit in there about the inauguaration. Inside is a large lucite box (north wall). The Bible is in it when the Masons are lending it to Federal Hall.
Behind the Bible is the railing, behind which Washington stood when he swore in. That, and the flagstone across the way, is the only remaining part of the original Federal Hall.
did lodge members support President barry obama In 2009 inauguration ceremony