New York Stock Exchange, New York City, Visitor Guide & Things to Do Nearby

The New York Stock Exchange at 11 Wall Street in New York City is the home of the world's largest stock exchange by market capitalization. Its temple-like facade, in place since 1903, is among the most recognised sights in the Financial District, and the market inside began with a short agreement signed under a tree in 1792.

The story behind it

Long before there was a building, brokers did business outdoors near 68 Wall Street, in the shade of a buttonwood tree. Trading was chaotic. In 1792, after the Panic of 1792 rattled the young nation's finances while Alexander Hamilton was Treasury Secretary, 24 brokers signed the Buttonwood Agreement. They promised to deal with one another and to charge a standard commission. That pact is the root of what became the New York Stock Exchange.

The exchange moved into its present home in 1903. The architecture was chosen with care: columns and a classical portico, like a Roman temple, were meant to tell the public that money kept here was safe and the institution was solid. The ritual of opening and closing the trading day with a bell is still a tradition, and the honor of ringing it often goes to visiting dignitaries, celebrities or the leaders of companies marking a first day of trading.

What to look for

• The row of tall Corinthian columns on the Broad Street side, which gives the building its look of an ancient temple.
• The sculpted pediment above the columns, a carved group of figures that stands for integrity watching over commerce.
• The giant flag that often hangs across the facade, which makes the building easy to spot from down the street.
• The narrow canyon of Wall Street itself, where tall towers close in on both sides and the street still feels like a corridor of money.

Tips for your visit

• Plan on 10 to 15 minutes for the building itself, longer if you want to explore the surrounding blocks.
• Weekday mornings are lively with workers and visitors, while weekends are quieter and better for photos.
• The interior is not generally open to casual visitors, so expect to admire it from the street and check current access before you go.
• Federal Hall, Trinity Church and the Charging Bull are all within a short walk, so it pairs well with a wider stroll through Lower Manhattan.

See it on a quest

Alexander Hamilton New York: Walk in His Footsteps brings you to the Stock Exchange on foot as one stop of a longer route through the area. The app tells you about each place when you arrive and sets a puzzle in what is in front of you, which makes the link between Hamilton and the birth of the market easy to see. One ticket covers the whole group.

The Ghost of Wall Street, Historic Downtown New York is a good way to see the exchange alongside the older streets around it. You walk from place to place at your own pace, hear the story of each stop as you reach it and solve a puzzle on the spot. One ticket covers the whole group.