Wall Street History

The history of Wall Street is the history of the financial markets in the US. Wall Street symbolizes the interests of big business and corporate America versus the middle class and small business owners along Main Street. Symbols of Wall Street’s power and influence include the NY Stock Exchange building and the iconic Charging Bull statue (now … Keep Reading → in Bowling Green). The Wall Street Journal traces its roots to the original stock report “Customers’ Afternoon Letter”. Wall Street has been the historical center of New York’s financial district marked by its being the first permanent home of the NY Stock Exchange. The region traces its earliest history to the 17th century Dutch settlement of New Amsterdam where the “de Waal Straat” marked the northern boundary between the Dutch and English settlements. The first presidential inauguration occurred at the Federal Hall and the formation of the NY Stock Exchange occurred under a buttonwood tree at the foot of Wall Street. Other landmark buildings include the Bankers Trust Building, The Trump building and the US headquarters of Deutche Bank occupying the former J.P. Morgan headquarters. Wall Street’s excesses have been chronicled in films such as “Wall Street” and “American Psycho” and in numerous books including “Bonfire of the Vanities” or “Bartleby, the Scrivener” among others. Learn more about the myth and legends of America’s financial center in this Hub.