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The Assay Office

THE ASSAY OFFICE was built in 1822 as the New York branch of the Bank of the United States, located at 15½ Wall Street. The (Second) Bank of the United States was the second attempt at a central bank for this country. Eventually, the central bank grew too powerful, trying to manipulate politics and master the economy itself, and so it was abolished in 1836. The building later became the Assay Office, an adjunct to the Customs House and Sub-Treasury next door, which itself is now known as Federal Hall National Monument. When the Assay Office was torn down, the façade was preserved and donated to the Metropolitan Museum of Art by Robert W. de Forest in 1924. It is now presented in the glass-covered courtyard of the American Wing of the greatest museum of art in the New World.

On Wall Street, with Federal Hall (originally the Customs House & Sub-Treasury) to the left.

In the American Wing of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Published at 8:14 pm on Wednesday 3 October 2007. Categories: Architecture New York.
Comments

More great content! I’d never seen the architectural rendering or the photo of this building in situ. I am, in a modest way, a student and collector of Federal furniture &c., so the sight of the American Wing speeds up my pulse. :)

— ScurvyOaks 9 Oct 2007 10:55 am
— Mr. Chase 14 Nov 2007 11:22 am

I too am quite amazed by these. Where did you find the photos of the old Assay Building? (And the old address: 15 1/2 Wall Street. The building is usually recorded as 30 Wall.)
thank you!

— Jason Kaufman 5 Jun 2012 9:22 pm
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