The 5 Best Things to Do on Wall Street

New York's Famous Street in the Financial District

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Who hasn’t heard of the famous Wall Street? It is the economic center of the United States and frequently associated with nothing less than wealth and power. Located in the Financial District of New York, Wall Street is home to countless banks, including JP Morgan Chase and Bank of America as well as the world’s largest stock exchange. It reaches all the way from Broadway to South Street. Let us tell you about our top things to do on Wall Street and nearby.

Our Top Things to Do on Wall Street

1. New York Stock Exchange

At 11 Wall Street, you will find the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), which is the world’s largest stock exchange by market capitalization. Though it may be the largest stock exchange, it is not the oldest one in the United States. The country’s oldest stock exchange can be found in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Due to tightened security measures after the attacks of 9/11 only a few blocks away, the NYSE is no longer open to the public, but remains a tourist draw. We strongly recommend putting the NYSE on your ‘things to do on Wall Street’ bucket list.

The 5 Best Things to Do on Wall Street

2. Charging Bull

You will find the famous bronze sculpture of the Charging Bull just around the corner from Wall Street. The sculpture was built by Italian artist Arturo Di Monica, weights 7100 lbs and stands 11 ft tall. His goal was to create a symbol that represents the optimism and courage of the people following the stock market crash of 1986. After careful observations and planning, he and some of his friends sneakily placed it in front of the New York Stock Exchange the morning of December 5th, 1989. The bull was a surprise to everyone and nobody could tell where it was coming from or who put it there . The same day however, the NYSE removed the unlawfully installed sculpture and it was later placed at Bowling Green, where you can still find it today.

Did you know? The Charging Bull in New York is not the only one of its kind. Di Monica installed further bulls in Shanghai (2010) and Amsterdam (2012).

When visiting one of those sculptures, don’t forget to rub their nose, horns and testicles for good luck!

Things to do on Wall Street

3. Fearless Girl

On the day before International Women’s Day 2017, Kristen Visbal installed the Fearless Girl bronze sculpture at Bowling Green. Weighting 250 lbs, measuring 50 inches and standing only 20ft away, she confidently faced off against the Charging Bull. She symbolizes feminist strength and advocates for gender equality. The sculpture was installed with a plaque reading ‘Know the power of women in leadership. SHE makes a difference’ – ‘SHE’ also being the fund’s trading symbol. Needless to say, the act gave rise to much controversy. Regardless of its true intention, Di Monica argues that the installation of the little girl changes the meaning of his bull. What do you think? Meaningful statement or advertisement?

To this day, the Fearless Girl is one of very few female statues in New York City. In December 2018 she was moved from her position at Bowling Green, where she faced the Charging Bull. You can find her right in front of the New York Stock Exchange!

Things to do on Wall Street

4. Federal Hall 

The Federal Hall was built in 1700 as New York’s City Hall. Since then, the building served as the first capitol building, first Congress and first Supreme Court of the United States, all of which are now located in Washington D.C. At this site, the country’s very first president, George Washington, took the oath of office. The Federal Hall building now serves as a museum about the beginnings of the United States.

Things to do on Wall Street

5. Trinity Church

Trinity Church is one of New York’s best known churches. The Episcopal church is located at the corner of Broadway and Wall Street. Services take place throughout the whole week and they even offer free guided tours.

Things to do on Wall Street

 

If you are looking for even more things to do near Wall Street, you’re lucky! Wall Street is only a short walk from the National 9/11 Memorial, the 9/11 Memorial Museum, One World Trade Center, Battery Park and South Street Seaport – the best sights in Lower Manhattan.

Wall Street Guided Tour

The best way to learn about Wall Street’s most interesting facts and secrets is by taking a guided tour. Especially because there are no longer tours of the New York Stock Exchange, a guided tour is a great option if you are truly interested in exploring the area at depth. Your guide will provide you with an exclusive inside scoop about Wall Street’s most famous landmarks.

The Wall Street walking tour starts at 1:30 pm and takes about 1 hour and 15 minutes. It’s very easy to fit into your schedule!

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Hotels near Wall Street NYC

If you are thinking about staying in walking distance to Wall Street during your trip, you may want to check out these hotels:

 
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Profilbild Steffen Kneist
About the author

I'm a true New York fan! Not only have I visited the city over 25 times but also have I spent several months here at a time. On my blog I show you the best and most beautiful spots of the city, so that you have a really good time! You can also find lots of insider tips in our New York travel guide. Also check out my hotel finder for New York!

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