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Photo: Tagger Yancey IV

Wall Street

Date c. mid-to-late 1700s
Where it gets its name From the wall that was erected here by the Dutch in the mid-1600s to mark the northern boundary of their settlement. Walk along the center of the cobblestone block of Wall Street between Broad and William Streets to see wooden inlays indicating where posts of the original wall used to stand.
What it was before The area once held a slave market. As the street developed, early buildings included Alexander Hamilton’s home and the City’s first bank.
Why it’s notable You might have heard the moniker before: it’s synonymous with the US, and global, financial industry.
What it is now A narrow street lined by high-rise buildings that once held numerous banking headquarters; in actuality, few still call the place home. Some notable addresses include no. 40, a 70-story tower with a green pyramidal roof like that of the Woolworth Building, and no. 55, a squat, Greek Revival fortress that originally held the Merchants Exchange.
Fast fact During the great Wall Street Crash of 1929, the stock market lost roughly a quarter of its value over just a few days.

Castle Clinton

Address The Battery
Date 1811
Where it gets its name From DeWitt Clinton, the early 19th-century mayor of New York City (as well as New York governor and failed Federalist presidential candidate).
What it was before A fort called Southwest Battery, which had successive stints as an immigration holding center, the New York City Aquarium, a restaurant and opera house.
Why it’s notable During the War of 1812, the fort—along with three others in the harbor—was heavily armed to protect against British naval advances.
What it is now The curved, sandstone building down in the Battery is the place to depart for ferries to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island; the National Parks Service which operates Castle Clinton, runs brief guided tours of the building and its grounds.
Fast fact Despite its active presence during wartime, no shots were ever fired from, or on, Castle Clinton.

Schermerhorn Row

Date 1811–1849
Where it gets its name From businessman Peter Schermerhorn, a merchant and shipowner who built the the multiuse houses to facilitate the shipping trade.
What it was before Warehouses, hotels, saloons.
Why it’s notable The 14 red-brick warehouses on Front, Fulton, John and South Streets preserve Georgian-Federal architectural details increasingly rare in the redeveloped neighborhood.
What it is now It was remade as South Street Seaport Museum in the early 1990s, with a museum and spaces for events.
Fast fact Sweet’s Restaurant, at 2 and 4 Fulton, was the oldest seafood spot in the City until it closed in 1992, having been established by Abraham Sweet in 1842.

Federal Hall

Address 26 Wall St.
Date 1842
Where it gets its name It was on this spot on Wall Street that the original Federal Hall, built in 1700 as a city hall and later serving as the nation’s initial capitol building, stood.
What is was before The same building once served as the US Customs House and US Sub-Treasury Building
Why it’s notable The site—though not this building—is where George Washington was sworn in as the first president of the United States. The current Greek revival temple, lined by Corinthian columns, bears some resemblance to its predecessor.
What it is now A National Parks Service–operated museum with artifacts like the bible Washington swore his oath on and memorabilia from the trial of John Peter Zenger, who dared to criticize the British royal governor of New York. Tours are available on weekdays.
Fast fact The bronze statue of Washington that fronts the building is 12 feet tall; a 2-foot cast of John Quincy Adams Ward’s sculpture can be found at the Met Fifth Avenue.

Trinity Church

Address 75 Broadway
Date 1846
Where it gets its name It’s a common name for churches the world over.
What it was before Two other Trinity Churches have stood here. One burned down during the Revolutionary War; the other was demolished in 1839 after weathering storm damage.
Why it’s notable The brownstone church was built with a spire whose cross topped out at 281 feet, a towering presence in the skyline in the mid-1800s—and much of the rest of that century. The churchyard cemetery, which predates the current church, holds the graves of Alexander Hamilton, Hamilton’s wife Elizabeth Schuyler, Declaration of Independence signer Francis Lewis and early publisher William Bradford.
What it is now It remains an active Episcopal parish with daily services, though many come here for afternoon guided tours that point out architectural and historical elements of the church.
Fast fact Thanks to a land grant from Queen Anne in 1705, Trinity Church is one of NYC’s biggest landowners—its holdings were valued a couple of years back at $2 billion.

India House

Address One Hanover Square
Date 1853
Where it gets its name To give the social club that took over in 1914 an air of exoticism and to recall colonial trade times.
What it was before The building has been home to Hanover Bank, the New York Cotton Exchange and the Haitian Consulate.
Why it’s notable Its brownstone-like facade, which looks like a classic New York City row house, and its collection of antiques.
What it is now A social club and maritime museum, but also the (basement) home to Harry’s Café & Steak.
Fast fact Willard Straight, who helped found the club, purchased the property and donated much of the Asian art that was once on display, was one of the founders of left-leaning magazine New Republic.