History of Wall Street in Pictures (1644 - 1969)
Running a narrow, winding path from Broadway in the west to South Street and in the east, Wall Street is considered to be the financial heart of the city. As the name implies, it is named after a barrier constructed by settlers to fence the area off from neighboring villages and tribes.
Originally known in Dutch as “Het Cingel” or “the Belt” when it was part of New Amsterdam in the 17th century, it was protected by a wall that was constructed under orders from Director General of the Dutch West India Company, Peter Stuyvesant, at the start of the first Anglo-Dutch war soon after New Amsterdam was incorporated in 1653.
On December 13, 1711, that the New York City Common Council made a market at the foot of Wall Street the city’s first official slave market for the sale and rental of enslaved Africans and Indians. The slave market operated from 1711 to 1762 at the corner of Wall and Pearl Streets. It was a wooden structure with a roof and open sides. The city directly benefited from the sale of slaves by implementing taxes on every person who was bought and sold there.
In 1789, Wall Street was the scene of the United States’ first presidential inauguration when George Washington took the oath of office on the balcony of Federal Hall on April 30, 1789. This was also the location of the passing of the Bill of Rights. Alexander Hamilton, who was the first Treasury secretary and “architect of the early United States financial system”, is buried in the cemetery of Trinity Church
In the early 19th century, both residences and businesses occupied the area, but increasingly business predominated, and New York City’s financial industry became centered on Wall Street. In the 20th century, several early skyscrapers were built on Wall Street, including 40 Wall Street, once the world’s tallest building.
Today the Wall Street area is home to the New York Stock Exchange, the world’s largest stock exchange by total market capitalization, as well as the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, and many commercial banks and insurance companies making it a nexus for commerce, not just in the city, but around the world.
1644: Posting The Notice of Wall Street
Illustration of a man posting a notice regarding the building of Wall Street on March 31, 1644, rallying local colonists to join together to build a wall to fend off attacks by natives.
1653: Wall Street Palisade
A wall constructed along the city's northernmost boundary, erected back in 1653 between the Hudson and East River to protect the town from marauding tribes.
1776: George Washington Visiting Congress in Wall Street
Illustration of George Washington arriving at Wall Street in a horse and carriage.
1860: Wall Street, New York
View of Wall Street with storefronts and Trinity Church in the distance. A sign of printer "Wm. D. Roe & Co." (at 59 Wall Street) is visible in the foreground.
1869: Wall Street Ferry, Brooklyn, New York in Distance
A lone silhouette under a shaded pedestrian overpass is captured against the backdrop of Wall Street's ferry and Brooklyn in the distance
1900: Piers at the Foot of Wall Street
A photograph of the piers at Wall Street with two large boats docked and a Colgate carriage with horses parked on the promenade.
1911: Wall Street and Nassau Street
Photograph of pedestrians and horse drawn carriages on Wall Street looking, east from Nassau Street.
1924: Wall Street and Trinity Church
A photograph of pedestrians on Wall Street with Trinity Church in the background.
1928: Wall Street and Trinity Church
Photograph of pedestrians on Wall Street with Trinity Church in the background.
1965: National City Bank, 55 Wall Street
Photograph of the National City Bank, located at 55 Wall Street, New York City.
1969: NYC Stock Exchange & Wall Street
Photograph of a packed floor at the New York City Stock Exchange on Wall Street.
