Charleston’s City Hall was originally intended to be a branch of The First Bank of the United States and serve as the Office of Discount and Deposit. Gabriel Manigault, also responsible for the design of the Joseph Manigault House, designed this building in Adam-style, or Federal Architecture. The construction began around 1800 and the bank functioned in this location until 1811 when the bank’s charter was repealed by Congress. The building became City Hall in 1818 after the City of Charleston regained ownership. City Hall houses the City Council Chamber, center of Charleston’s city government. The first portrait of George Washington, painted by John Trumbull, c.1791, is hung in the chamber room. City Hall is also home to portraits of James Monroe, General Beauregard, John C. Calhoun, Zachary Taylor, and Andrew Jackson. The council chamber has the distinction of being the second oldest chamber in constant use in the United States.