Manhattan · NYC landmark
Surrogate’s Courthouse — Hall of Records
31 Chambers Street · Manhattan, New York City
A richly decorated civic landmark near City Hall; appreciate the exterior and check courthouse rules before an interior visit.
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NYFE Summary
The Hall of Records was designed to protect city documents from fire. Courts shared the building with those records from the start. Outside, sculptures represent subjects such as law and philosophy alongside figures from New York history. Inside, a marble staircase and mosaics turn the entrance into a formal civic space.
The Municipal Archives also uses the building to explain how those records preserve everyday lives. Its permanent Windows on the Archives exhibition displays copies of documents saved through centuries of city government. Other exhibitions draw on photographs, maps and oral histories from across the five boroughs.
NYFE summary from the official history and visitor sources linked below.
Plan a visit
Check the operator’s current opening, admission and access information before travelling. Historic status does not guarantee public access to every interior.
Official visitor information ↗