The first inauguration: When George Washington was sworn in on 30 April 1789 Updated Jan 20, 2021 | 15:39 IST George Washington, the first President of the US was not sworn inside the US Capitol building in Washington DC simply because it was yet to be constructed. Here is where he was given the oath instead. Inauguration of George Washington at the Federal Hall in New York City It may stun many of us to discover that the swearing-in of the first president of the United States of America did not take place inside the US Capitol building. Not only that, it did not happen in Washington DC at all, but in New York. On April 30, 1789, George Washington took the oath of office as the first president of the United States.