Inside Out Tours’ How Money Was Made: Wall Street to the World Trade Center Walking Tour tells the remarkable story of New York City’s Financial District, the small Lower Manhattan neighborhood that plays an outsized role in the contemporary global economy. This two-and-a-half hour guided walking tour covers about one-and-a-half miles, zig-zagging through time and space to take you to landmarks like Wall Street, Zuccotti Park, and the National September 11 Memorial & Museum while sharing insights regarding four centuries of financial ups and downs. This engaging tour is a must for anyone who has ever wanted to learn more about the important role New York City has played in shaping the world’s financial systems.
Wall Street to the World Trade Center Walking Tour Background Information
The neighborhood known today the world over as the Financial District of Manhattan was the first area of New York City colonized by Dutch merchants in the early part of the seventeenth century. By the middle of the seventeenth century, the British had wrestled control of the “New Amsterdam” colony from the Dutch and renamed it “New York City,” at which point the settlement was well on its way to becoming a vital cog in the global economy. New York City developed into a huge port city and major trading hub—so much so that if you ever look closely at the official New York City seal, you’ll observe that it features both beavers and barrels! These flourishes, which might strike some of us today as rather odd, are vestiges of long-past New York City economic activities.
Today, New York City’s role as capital of the global economic system remains largely unchallenged, and the How Money Was Made: Wall Street to the World Trade Center Walking Tour is a thought-provoking way to learn more about that ongoing role and all it entails.
What to See on a Wall Street to the World Trade Center Walking Tour
Your How Money Was Made: Wall Street to the World Trade Center Walking Tour meets up in front of the National Museum of the American Indian—to identify your guide, just look for the person holding a red flag with the words “Inside Out Tours.” The first portion of the tour will include visits to nearby notable sites like Bowling Green, The Battery, and Fraunces Tavern (be advised that admission to these attractions is not included as part of this tour). Along the way, you’ll learn about how the New York colony was established by the Dutch and British, the nature of early colonial trade routes, and the manner in which The Battery was created by filling in a segment of New York Harbor.
From there it’s on to Wall Street, where you’ll have the opportunity to snap pictures in front of the dueling Charging Bull and Fearless Girl statues, before stopping near the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. Your guide will explain the history of Wall Street’s financial institutions, describing in detail their many booms and busts while sharing stories about some of the industry’s most influential figures, notorious robber barons, and more. You’ll also view Zuccotti Park, famous as the birthplace of the worldwide Occupy movement dedicated to protesting global capitalism.
The How Money Was Made: Wall Street to the World Trade Center Walking Tour concludes with a visit to Ground Zero, site of the former World Trade Center and current home of the National September 11 Memorial & Museum. You’ll hear the ins and outs of why the World Trade Center was originally built during the 1970s, as well as the horrific events of 9/11 and the details of the site’s recent redevelopment.
The How Money Was Made: Wall Street to the World Trade Center Walking Tour runs every Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday, typically departing at 1:30pm. The tour lasts approximately two-and-a-half hours, covering roughly one-and-a-half miles on foot during that time. Between the months of April and January, a Spanish-language version of the How Money Was Made: Wall Street to the World Trade Center Walking Tour is available, too.
Tips for Taking the Wall Street to the World Trade Center Walking Tour
- How Money Was Made Walking Tour is included on several money saving tourist passes including the New York Pass, Go NY All-Inclusive Pass and NY Explorer Pass
- All Inside Out Tours require you to make advance reservations. In particular, the How Money Was Made: Wall Street to the World Trade Center Walking Tour is one of Inside Out Tours most popular offerings, frequently selling out well ahead of time, so it’s advisable to book your spot as soon as you know what date works best for your plans.
- Speaking of sold-out tours, while Inside Out Tours doesn’t have an official waiting list for their How Money Was Made: Wall Street to the World Trade Center Walking Tour, they do sometimes run additional tours on days when it’s sold out well in advance. Thus, Inside Out Tours encourages guests to e-mail them directly to inquire about reserving a spot on a sold-out tour. This is something to keep in mind if your schedule is tight and you have your heart set on going on this tour on a very specific day that appears booked.
- If you intend to make advance reservations via an attraction pass, be sure to carefully follow Inside Out Tours’ online instructions for doing so. If you accidentally purchase an additional ticket, they will not refund your money or exchange your passes.
- Check the weather forecast before going on your How Money Was Made: Wall Street to the World Trade Center Walking Tour. Inside Out Tours only cancels their outings in the rare cases of extreme weather events, so your tour is likely to be conducted rain or shine. If need be, you’ll definitely want to have that umbrella or sweatshirt at the ready!