Welcome to Wall Street! Whether you're new to the SIFMA Foundation Stock Market Game
program or a veteran participant, we want you to note that the seat and
origins of our country's financial system are right here in lower Manhattan.
We are thrilled to share this virtual field trip with you.
We begin at SIFMA and SIFMA Foundation's offices in the historic Equitable building located at
120 Broadway between Pine and Cedar Streets. It was a landmark engineering
achievement and one of the city's earliest skyscrapers when it was erected
in 1912. Exiting the building on Nassau Street,
we are flanked on our left by the New York Federal Reserve Bank, home to the
largest gold store in the world and on our right by Federal Hall, our nation's
first capital prior to its move to Washington DC. Mere steps to your right
is the New York Stock Exchange, on the corner of Wall and Broad. The New York
Stock Exchange is the world's largest stock exchange by market capitalization
of its listed companies. Walk east down Wall Street past the former Merchant
Exchange building. Herman Melville worked as a customs inspector here while
writing his famous novel, Moby Dick. Pause at the corner of Wall and William.
This is a Museum of American Finance. It is housed in the landmark Bank of New York,
which counts Alexander Hamilton among its founders. It is the only
museum dedicated to celebrating the spirit of enterpreneurship and the free
market tradition, which makes New York City the financial capital of the world.
Returning to Federal Hall, say hello to George Washington -- Hi George! His statue
commemorates our nation's first presidential inauguration in 1789.
Later the same year, the Bill of Rights were proposed and ratified here. Now turn
back to Wall Street facing Broadway. Trinity Church casts an imposing
presence across the street. Alexander Hamilton was a regular
worshipper here and is buried with his wife on its ground. Before crossing Broadway
be sure to look up. See the top of the new World Trade Center and the Oculus
with its white spikes. Continue South down Broadway towards Bowling Green.
Built in 1733, it is the city's oldest public park. Before that, it served as a
cattle market and parade ground. At the top of Bowling Green is a bronze
sculpture of the charging bull. It initially was placed outside of the New
York Stock Exchange, following the 1987 stock market crash, as a sign of the market's
resilience. Do you know what a bull market is? In early 2017, quite a stir was
caused when a statue of a young girl was placed facing the bull. A symbol of gender
diversity, she is known as Fearless Girl. Our field trip comes to an end with the
Alexander Hamilton US Customs House at One Bowling Green. The Customs House is
one of the earliest to be protected under the New York City Landmarks
Preservation Commission and was renamed after Hamilton in tribute to his role as
first Secretary of Treasury. The building now houses the National Museum of the
American Indian. Pay particular attention to the giant statues in front of the
building. Each depicts how the US viewed itself, Asia, Europe, and Africa in
1907. There's so much to explore that we cannot possibly cover here. Experience
the convergence of past, present, and future, starting with an agreement under
a Buttonwood tree that placed the US at the forefront of the financial markets
for more than two centuries. Join us! Play the Stock Market
Game with us this school year!