Wall Street Historic District (Manhattan)

The Wall Street Historic District in New York City includes part of Wall Street and parts of nearby streets in the Financial District in Lower Manhattan. The district includes 65 contributing buildings and one contributing structure over a 63-acre (25 ha) listed area.^[1]

The street plan of the historic district dates back to the colonial era. The layout "reflects medieval European town patterns rather than the standard grid found throughout much of Manhattan, and together with the district's towering skyscrapers it creates the narrow 'canyons' for which the area is so famous."^[2]

The Wall Street Historical District developed and originated in the 17th century. It was a part of the Dutch settlement of New Amsterdam. Wall Street is named after a wall built for defense in the 1650s.^[3] It became a center for merchants and traders in the 18th century. The Buttonwood Agreement was signed in 1792 and led to organized trading.^[4] The growth of banks, insurance companies, and brokerage firms in the 19th century.

There are a vast mix of architectural styles throughout wall streets historic district. Some examples would be Federal, Greek Revival, Beaux Arts, Art Deco, and International styles. These styles were also used in various ways. They would use them is things like stone facades, designs on columns, as well as classical design elements. They had the development of early skyscrapers which consisted of steel frames and elevators. There were a big amount of tall office buildings. Some narrow streets formed what are now knows as “urban canyons”.^[5] A cause of the buildings was also limiting the natural light and a strong visual contrast between the buildings and streets.

The economic and cultural significance of wall streets historic district was very impactful on how we see it today. The center of American banking and finance, a major economic landmark, is still there today. There are also locations of major financial institutions and exchanges. They had a big influence on national and global markets. The name “Wall Street” is now seen as a symbol of capitalism and great economic power. These are also things that frequently appear all across media, films, and literature. They are also associated with major financial events and reforms. It was the role in shaping the public views of economics and business as we see today^[6]. 

Within the historic district are 21 sites that are individually (i.e., separately) listed on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP), as follows:^[7]

• Bowling Green - also a New York City Landmark
• Alexander Hamilton U.S. Custom House (1 Bowling Green) - also a New York City Landmark
• New York Stock Exchange Building (8-18 Broad Street) - also a New York City Landmark
• Broad Exchange Building (25 Broad Street) - also a New York City Landmark
• Lee, Higginson & Company Bank Building (37–41 Broad Street)
• American Bank Note Company Building (70 Broad Street) - also a New York City Landmark
• International Mercantile Marine Company Building (1 Broadway) - also a New York City Landmark
• Empire Building (71 Broadway) - also a New York City Landmark
• Equitable Building (120 Broadway) - also a New York City Landmark
• Trinity Church (Broadway and Wall Street) - also a New York City Landmark
• Federal Reserve Bank of New York Building (33 Liberty Street) - also a New York City Landmark
• Liberty Tower (55 Liberty Street) - also a New York City Landmark
• New York Chamber of Commerce Building (65 Liberty Street) - also a New York City Landmark
• Wallace Building (56 Pine Street) - also a New York City Landmark
• American Stock Exchange Building (86 Trinity Place) - also a New York City Landmark
• The House of Morgan (23 Wall Street) - also a New York City Landmark
• Federal Hall National Memorial (26 Wall Street) - also a New York City Landmark
• Bank of the Manhattan Company Building (40 Wall Street) - also a New York City Landmark
• Bank of New York Building (48 Wall Street) - also a New York City Landmark
• Merchants Exchange Building (55 Wall Street) - also a New York City Landmark
• Wall and Hanover Building (63 Wall Street)

Two further buildings within the Wall Street Historic District are individually listed on the New York State Register of Historic Places, but not the NRHP. These are the Trinity Building (111 Broadway) and the U.S. Realty Company Building (115 Broadway). Both of these are also New York City Landmarks.^[7]

A number of additional buildings within the district are listed as landmarks by the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission but not by the NRHP or New York State Register of Historic Places. These are: Delmonico's Building (56 Beaver Street), the Bowling Green Offices Building (11 Broadway), the Cunard Building (25 Broadway), the Standard Oil Building (26 Broadway), the American Express Building (65 Broadway), City Bank Farmers Trust Building (20 Exchange Place), 90 Maiden Lane, the Down Town Association (60 Pine Street), the Cocoa Exchange (1 Wall Street Court), the Irving Trust Company Building (1 Wall Street), the Bankers Trust Building (14 Wall Street), and the J. & W. Seligman & Co. Building (1 William Street).^[7] The district's street pattern is also a New York City Landmark.^[7]