Page 72 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - New York City

70  NE W Y ORK CIT Y AREA B Y AREA

1971 when President Nixon 3 New York
ended the trading of gold at a Stock Exchange
fixed price. Designed by York &
Sawyer in the Italian Renaissance See pp72–3.
style, the 1924 building occupies
a full block and is adorned with
fine wrought-iron grillwork.
Entrance to the Federal Reserve Bank, built 2 Federal Hall
in 1924
26 Wall St. Map 1 C3. Tel (212) 825-
1 Federal 6888. q Wall St. Open 9am–5pm
Reserve Bank Mon–Fri. Closed public hols.
7 8 10am, 1pm, 2pm, 3pm Mon–
33 Liberty St. Map 1 C2. Tel (212) 720- Fri. = ∑ nps.gov/feha
6130. q Fulton St–Broadway Nassau.
8 1pm & 2pm Mon–Fri (tours only). A bronze statue of George
Free (register in advance). Washington on the steps of
Closed pub hols. ^ 7 Federal Hall marks the site where
∑ newyorkfed.org the nation’s first presi dent took his
oath of office in 1789. Thousands
This is a government bank for of New Yorkers jammed Wall and
banks – it is one of the 12 Broad streets for the occasion.
Federal Reserve banks, and They roared their approval when Exterior of the Museum of American
therefore issues US currency. the Chancellor of the State of Finance, Wall Street
You can identify bills originating New York shouted, “Long live
from this branch by the letter B George Washington, President 4 Museum of
in the Federal Reserve seal on of the United States.” American Finance
each note. The present structure,
Five stories below ground is renovated in 2006, was built 48 Wall St. Map 1 C3. Tel (212) 908-
one of the largest storehouses between 1834 and 1842 as 4110. q Wall St. Open 10am–4pm
for international gold. Each the US Customs House. It is Tue–Sat. ∑ moaf.org
nation’s hoard is stored in its one of the finest Greek Revival
own compartment within the designs in the city. Display Completed in 1929, this
subterranean vault, guarded by rooms off the Rotunda pay museum sits in the former
90-ton doors. Payments between tribute to the Washington main hall of the lavish Bank
nations used to be made by connection, and include the of New York & Trust building.
physical transfers of gold, until Bill of Rights Room. An ideal place to gain an
understanding of the city’s
financial trading rooms,
the museum explains
stocks, bonds, and futures
trading. Multimedia
presentations and exhibits
explain all there is to
know, and there are
several rare artifacts
on display, including a
bond signed by George
Washington in 1792, a
gold ingot from the 1850s,
and ticker tape from
the opening moments
of the Great Crash in 1929.
The first Secretary of
the Treasury, Alexander
Hamilton (c. 1755–1804),
was a financial pioneer
in his time, and there is
an entire gallery dedicated
to him at the museum.
Documentary films on
Wall Street are shown
Marble-columned rotunda within Federal Hall through the day as well.

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