Wall Street: What to See in the Financial District

Wall Street is one of New York's most famous streets. Manhattan's Financial District is built around it, and it's the neighborhood of the famous NYC bull. But what's actually on Wall Street, and is Wall Street worth visiting?

Absolutely. Keep reading and you'll see everything you can do in Manhattan's Financial District, the epicenter of Western finance.

What to see on Wall Street

Before the pandemic, walking the streets of the Financial District on a weekday meant plunging into a whirlwind of suits, heels, ties, a lot of coffee and smartphones.

After the pandemic, many executives kept working from home, one reason the rhythm of New York's Financial District no longer looks much like Oliver Stone's Wall Street (1987) or Martin Scorsese's The Wolf of Wall Street (2013).

On top of that, several office buildings in the neighborhood have been converted into apartments, giving it a more residential feel. That has revitalized one of the most emblematic neighborhoods in Lower Manhattan.

You'll notice the transformation in the neighborhood grocery stores that have replaced the coffee shops where stock traders used to hang out. That's New York for you, always changing.

Don't worry, though, there's plenty to see in New York's Financial District. For starters, the Stock Exchange and the Charging Bull statue are still there.

But there's much more to do on Wall Street, like visiting the Federal Reserve Bank and its vault full of gold bars.

Or wandering the streets of Wall Street to admire buildings obsessed with Greek-inspired monumental architecture. Columns, capitals and marble are everywhere around here.

So keep reading to discover the highlights of this iconic Downtown Manhattan neighborhood.

1. New York Stock Exchange

The New York Stock Exchange (11 Wall Street) is a Manhattan icon and a monument to the lifestyle admired by followers of financial wizardry.

It's one of those neoclassical buildings that you haven't been able to visit since the September 11 attacks. So you'll have to settle for photos from the outside.

2. The Wall Street Bull

The Charging Bull, the famous NYC bull statue and symbol of Manhattan's Financial District, has quite a story behind it.

Its sculptor, Italian American Arturo di Modica, installed it in 1989 without permission in front of the New York Stock Exchange, an act of «artistic vandalism.»

New Yorkers loved it, so the city decided to move it to Bowling Green Park, the oldest small public park in New York.

What few people know is that the statue still belongs to the artist. He never sold it or donated it to the city. In fact, it's for sale, as long as the next owner agrees to leave it where it is.

This charging bull is one of the most visited spots for tourists, so you'll need patience to get a photo and touch its rear end, a tradition said to bring good luck.

Because of the crowds that pack into this narrow little park, there are plans to move the bull somewhere else in the city. If that happens, we'll let you know.

3. Federal Hall

In the Financial District you'll find Federal Hall National Memorial (corner of Wall Street and Nassau Street), the former Congress building where George Washington was sworn in as the first president of the United States at the end of the 18th century.

The building later served as a custom house, then as part of the United States Treasury Department.

Today it's a museum commemorating George Washington that you can visit for free (and it has clean restrooms in the basement, a great thing to know when you're pounding the pavement all day).

4. Federal Reserve

A few steps from the stock exchange is the Federal Reserve Bank of New York (33 Liberty St), which many analysts consider the most powerful bank on the planet.

Before the pandemic they offered free guided tours Monday through Friday of the museum and the gold vault. These fascinating tours inside the Federal Reserve haven't started up again yet, so keep an eye on their official website.

5. Wall Street churches

The Financial District is home to two of the city's oldest churches: Trinity Church, whose old cemetery is still in use, and St. Paul's Chapel.

I especially recommend visiting St. Paul's Chapel because, besides being the oldest church still standing in New York, it's a symbol of hope and resilience after the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001.

This old building came through the Twin Towers attack intact, without a single broken window. That's why they call it «the little chapel that stood.»

It's definitely one of the places you should visit when you go to the World Trade Center.

6. Fraunces Tavern Museum

In the building that today houses the Fraunces Tavern Museum, George Washington met with patriot soldiers during the fight for independence.

It covers colonial New York, the American Revolution and the early years of the United States as an independent republic. One of its most curious objects is a lock of George Washington's hair.

The tavern sits on the Fraunces Tavern Block, the only block with colonial-era buildings still standing in New York.

7. Stone Street

Near Fraunces Tavern, and just 2 minutes from Wall Street, you'll find Stone Street. It's a tiny colonial street in the Financial District that contrasts sharply with the skyscrapers surrounding it.

It carries enormous historical value, since it was one of the first paved streets in the city. You'll see cobblestones from when New York was still a Dutch colony, New Amsterdam.

Stone Street's centuries-old buildings used to be warehouses and are now restaurants and bars. In the late afternoon the street fills with life, right as Wall Street office workers head out for an after-work drink.

As you can see, it's a fantastic place to grab a drink and soak up the Wall Street atmosphere. Prices at the restaurants and pubs on Stone Street vary a lot, so you're sure to find affordable options.

During spring and summer in New York, the restaurants put tables out on the street. This food-lined boulevard in one of Manhattan's oldest neighborhoods gets even more fun.

8. South Street Seaport

The historic district of South Street Seaport has shops, restaurants and an unusual museum dedicated to New York's maritime history, which includes a visit to historic ships docked at the pier.

It's a great spot to take in the Brooklyn Bridge in all its glory.

9. Pier 11

Very close to South Street Seaport is Pier 11, the dock where you can catch all the NYC Ferry routes, an ideal way to sail to several attractions in Brooklyn and Queens.

Other sightseeing cruises leave from this pier too, along with the free ferry to the wonderful IKEA store in Brooklyn.

10. World Trade Center

Wall Street sits right next to the World Trade Center, so it's a smart idea to see both in the same day.

There you can take in just how hard New Yorkers pushed to rebuild Ground Zero: the 1WTC observatory, the Memorial, the 9/11 Museum and the new WTC Transportation Hub.

11. The Skyscraper Museum

The Skyscraper Museum (39 Battery Place), located in Battery Park Place, digs into the architectural legacy and construction history of New York's skyscrapers.

It's a must for architects, designers and engineers. You'll find models, blueprints, photographs and videos about the building of these New York architectural icons.

Best of all, it's one of the free museums in New York. Just book your ticket on their website and you're set. On the page dedicated to this specialized museum I go over all the details.

The history of Wall Street

Here's an interesting bit: the name Wall Street is a holdover from New York's colonial past. Along what is now the street ran the city's protective north wall, built in 1653 by the Dutch, back when the city was still called New Amsterdam.

Wall Street was hit hard during the September 11 terrorist attack, given how close it is to the site of the Twin Towers.

The effects of the pandemic are visible in New York's Financial District too, since many of the famous Wall Street brokers no longer need to come into the office, which is why plenty of the shops, coffee spots and restaurants they used to frequent have closed.

Even so, it's one of the most emblematic neighborhoods in New York, and you should see it. It's very close to the World Trade Center, so getting there is no trouble at all.

-o-

Address

New York's Financial District is right in Downtown, just north of Lower Manhattan, the lower triangle of the island.

How to get to Wall Street in New York

Subway lines 2, 3, 4 and 5 are the closest. I recommend getting off at the Wall Street station and starting your exploration of the Financial District from there.