What is the oldest inhabited building in NYC?

St. Paul's Chapel is recognized as the oldest surviving building in New York City that is still actively used for its original purpose, which is worship. Completed in 1766, it is part of the Episcopal Church and has a significant historical presence, especially noted for surviving the Great Fire of New York in 1776 and its proximity to the site of the September 11 attacks. The chapel has played a vital role in New York's history, serving as a place of prayer for firefighters and rescue workers after the attacks.

In comparison, while the other options are historically significant buildings, they do not have the same stature as the oldest inhabited structure. The Old Stone House, for example, replicates a building from Revolutionary War times but is not the original. City Hall, though historic and an iconic piece of architecture, was constructed later than St. Paul's Chapel. Fraunces Tavern is also an important historical site associated with George Washington but was built in the 18th century after St. Paul's.

Thus, the recognition of St. Paul's Chapel as the oldest inhabited building is well-founded in its continuous use and preservation as a worship site since the 18th century.