Wall Street on a Whim
Wall Street, with its financial power and influence, is technically a street in Lower Manhattan. Back in 1653, a wall protected the northern borders of the city, which then was called New Amsterdam, protecting them from the British and the natives. What makes Wall Street so famous is the infamous New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), located at 11 Wall Street and the international banks such as J.P. Morgan/Chase, which makes the street the center of America’s finance.
If you’re staying at a hotel in the Financial District, the Downtown Alliance provides a 90-minute walking tour, starting at the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian every Thursday and Saturday beginning at noon. Make a note though, ever since the terrorist attacks on 9/11, security has blocked off the NYSE from tourists, however, you can still pose by the George Washington’s statue at the Federal Hall, which was the first capitol in the country and where George Washington was sworn into office.
If the financial part of Wall Street doesn’t fancy you, the architecture will. Most of the buildings on Wall Street were constructed during the Gilded Age and Limestone was in demand. You’ll really appreciate the India House, located at 1 Hanover Street, built in 1853. This Renaissance-style mansion was the headquarters for Hanover Bank, by the 1870s, it became the New York Cotton Exchange; in 1925, it became the current India House . While there, if you happen to be visiting on a particularly nice day, grab a bite to eat; there’s a pedestrian cobblestoned walk next to the Indian House that runs through to downtown Manhattan and you’ll see a couple of blocks where the old architecture has been entirely preserved and is used as outdoor seating space by many of the restaurants. After lunch, there are a few spectacular examples of Art Deco buildings to check out, they are few and far in-between throughout Wall Street, but you’ll like the building at 1 Wall Street; go inside is see a fantastic mosaic atrium. Finally, if your walking tour allows, check out the chic retail shops, such as Tiffany & Company, or Cipriani, most likely, you’ll end up leaving both stores with something special in hand.
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