5. St. Paul’s Chapel was George Washington’s Church of Choice

An engraving of Washington’s specially designated pew. Photo from New York Public Library

Because of the destruction of Trinity Church in 1776, President Washington had his inaugural service at St. Paul’s Chapel. Both houses of Congress were also in attendance for the event. Following his inauguration — and with the White House still under construction and New York serving as the country’s temporary capital — Washington continued to attend St. Paul’s, sitting in the same pew for the next two years.