New York, 24 March 2026 — UN Secretary-General António Guterres and ambassadors from the 15 members of the Security Council visited Lehman College in the Bronx, the site of the first Security Council meeting held on United States soil in 1946.
The visit commemorated the 80th anniversary of the historic session, which took place in a refurbished basketball gymnasium at what was then Hunter College. The facility was converted into a temporary Council chamber within three weeks, while journalists were accommodated in a converted swimming pool.
During the tour, Security Council members viewed the historic gymnasium and received a presentation on the early days of the United Nations. Officials highlighted that the first meeting addressed international issues including the situation in Iran.
The visit included a guided historical tour, group photographs, and a presentation inside the original chamber, underscoring the organization’s origins and its continued role in maintaining international peace and security.
Lehman College, formerly part of Hunter College, hosted the Council in March 1946 before the United Nations moved to temporary headquarters in Lake Success on Long Island due to space constraints.
