We will continue walking towards
Bowling Green, the first public park of NY that, surprisingly enough, still has its original fence intact, and we will stop for a quick photo-op by the iconic
Charging Bull where we can unveil the history of this “city sculpture”. We will proceed towards the inner streets of the Financial District passing by the historic
Fraunces Tavern, walking along
Stone Street and finally reaching Wall Street.
Wall Street and its History
Possibly the most notorious street in NY and sometimes also synonymous with the greed of the financial institutions in opposition to Main Street (
the American people.) But here we won’t really talk finance, instead, we’ll jump into history,
some 400 years ago and learn how today’s New York came about … The
Lenape Indians, the
Dutch, the
Brits, the Colonies, the
Revolutionary War, The Civil War and the 21st Century. Here, we’ll take some time to visit the
Federal National Hall (during opening hours we can visit the rotunda – free of charge,) we’ll check
#40 Wall Street, do you know why this Building is such a historic place and as a bronze plaque at the entrance? It has nothing to do with the name of the buidling, we'll learn of its history. And of course, we’ll have the time to snap several pictures of the
New York Stock Exchange. We’ll see
Trinity Church and its cemetery (
both closed due to major construction until further notice,) one of the few Manhattan Churches that still has its original adjacent cemetery.
9/11 Memorial and the new WTC
The last part of the tour is dedicated to the
9/11 Memorial, where we can admire the progress in the new WTC construction including the now tallest building in the Western Hemisphere – The
One WTC (aka Freedom Tower), we will go inside the newly opened
Oculus and walk underground, this is the latest work by the famous, yet disputed, architect Calatrava ... An ideal tour for some mix of history, modern architecture and incredible views!
FREE BONUS: The Brooklyn Promenade & DUMBO
If time allows it, we will hop on the Subway to reach the
Historic Neighborhood of Brooklyn Heights famous for its
well-appointed tree-lined streets, the gourmet coffee shops, the restaurants, and the overall small-town vibe. The streets are adorned with
stately Townhouses, Mansions and beautiful backyards. Once we arrive in Brookyn (just a 5-minute ride with the Subway) will have a chance to explore the first area to be declared Historic District in the Big Apple. We will walk along the beautiful
Brooklyn Promenade while enjoying gorgeous views over the Skyline, and we will reach the iconic neighborhood of
Dumbo (right by the Brooklyn Bridge) where this tour will conclude.
You can then decide to spend your afternoon in Brooklyn, grab a bite in one of the many local eateries or at the new Time Out Market, or perhaps walk the Brooklyn Bridge
unescorted. Please note that this Brooklyn Part is not part of the Tour, it's an Extra Bonus that can only be done if time allows. The Overall Tour will always last 4 hours.
Video: The Financial District, WTC, and Battery Park Tour