Washington's inauguration, Centennial of
On April 29 and 30, 1889, the
city of New York celebrated the centennial of the inauguration of
George Washington as the first
President of the
United States.
The occasion was also observed quite generally throughout the country, but nowhere in so imposing a manner as in the city in which that inauguration had taken place.
The celebration was opened with a naval parade in the harbor on the morning of April 29.
President Harrison, following as nearly as possible the same route of travel as
President Washington, was conveyed by water from
Elizabethport to New York, being escorted by a committee of governors, commissioners of State, and other distinguished personages.
Upon his arrival in the
East River he was transferred to a barge manned by a crew of ship-masters from the Marine Society of the
Port of New York, and by them rowed to the shore.
The crew of the barge that rowed
President Washington from
Elizabethport to the foot of Wall Street were members of the same society.
A reception was afterwards held by the
President and the governors of the States in the
Equitable Building, and in the evening the
Centennial Ball was given in the
Metropolitan Opera-house.
On April 30 a special service of thanksgiving was held in St. Paul's Chapel, being conducted in the same manner as that held in the same place on the day of
Washington's inauguration 100 years before.
Literary exercises then took place at the corner of Wall and Nassau streets, the scene of the first inauguration ceremonies.
These exercises consisted of an invocation by
the Rev. Dr. Richard S. Storrs, a poem by
John Greenleaf Whittier, an oration by
Chauncey M. Depew, and an address by
President Harrison.
The remainder of the day was given to a grand military parade, ending with a free open-air concert of vocal and instrumental music and a general illumination of the city.
On May 1 a great industrial and civic parade, under command of
Maj.-Gen. Daniel Butterfield as chief marshal, took place, and was witnessed by 500,000 spectators.
The celebration was conducted with complete success throughout, and not only reflected great credit upon its managers, but accomplished great good in strengthening the patriotic sentiment of the people of New York and of the entire country.
