Financial district and Lower Manhattan

South of Manhatta represents the birthplace of New York..
The small town of New Amsterdam at the bottom of Manhattan was defended by a fort (south) and by a wall (north), in order to protect against Indians.
In 1699, the wall was destroyed by the British and replaced by a street - Wall Street
The activity was concentrated here and it became an administrative, residential as well as a commercial area.

Wall Street became the center of banking, finance and insurance in the latter19th century.

World Trade Center
Observation desk
107 th Floor ; open July-August daily 9:30am -11:30pm.
The rest of the year opens daily 9:30am to 9:30pm - Fare : 10$
Information - Tel.: 212 - 323-2340

The Twin Towers from the World Trade Center (WTC) are todays as famous as the Empire State Building.
Entirley devoted to to the international trade, this buiding was completed in 1970 by the archirects Minoru Yamasaki & Ass. and Emery Roth & Sons.

The Twin Towers are the second tallest buildings in the United States after Sears Towers in Chicago, rising to 1, 3500 ft.

It's the highest point in the city and on a clear day the view from the top is nothing short of spectacular.



World Financial Center
One of the latest complex built in Manhattan, four office towers designed by Cesar Pelli & Associates. Public places along Hudson River.

See the Winter Garden

Former US Custom House
1, Bowling Green

Designed in 1907 by Cass Gilbert.
This Beaux Arts monument became in 1994 the Museum of the American Indian ( open evey day, free entrance ).
Note the sculptures made by Daniel Chetser French ( who also created the Lincoln Memeorial in Washington ).
The sculptures represent the four continents.

In 1973 the Customs House moved into the World Trade Center.

Internet Web Site
National Museum of the American Indian - Smithsonian Institution

Bowling Green

This square used to be a market during the Dutsch period of the 17th century. It becamethe first park in the City inn1773, and was popularised as a place where bowling players met eachother.

Battery Park

The name of Battery Park reflects the fact that canons were used here to defend Castle Clinton Fort, built to protect the city against the British.

Castle Clinton National Monument
open year round daily 8:30am to 5pm, closed 25th Dec Information Tel.: 212 344 7220.

The fortification was build in 1811 and restored in 1975.

The promenade on the river offer a splendid view of New York's harbour.

The ferries to Staten Island leave from Battey Park.


Trinity Church

Gothic monument were designed by Richerd Upjohn and used to be the highest point in Manhattan. The church was completed in 1846

Square bell tower with a 280 ft spire
Bronze doors

The burial ground is home to the city's oldest tomb, dated 1681, offering an astonishing contrast with the adjacent Financial District skycrapers.

Fraunces Tavern
54 Pearl Street - Open year round Monday to Friday 10am to 4:45pm. On week ends noon to 4pm. Closed on major holidays. Rate : 2.50$
Phone 212 425 1778

This old tavern was bought by in 1763 by Samuel Fraunces.
It became famous during the Revolution when GeorheWashington stayed there in 1783. Fraunces was the scene of Georges Washington's farewell to his offices in 1783.

The tavern was reconstructed in a Georgian style in 1927 and today contains a tavern style restaurant and a small museum where America's memories can be visited.

Wall Street

Financial Center of New York. The name comes from the Wall built by the Dutsch Governor Peter Stuyvesant in 1653 in order to protect the small city against the Indians.

In 1792, brokers met here, under a buttonwood tree at the intersection of Wall and Pearl Streets.

Today it symbolizes the world financial power of the United States.

New York Stock Exchange
20 Broad Street - Open year round from Monday to Friday
9:15am to 4pm
Closed major holidays. Free entrance.

The New York Stock Exchange was founded in 1792 and the building known today was built in 1903 by G.B. Post.

Corinthian style colums

Federal Hall
26 Wall Street. Open year round Moday to Friday 9am to 5pm - Information Phone : 212 825 6888

This monument was built on the site occupied by New York's City Hall where George Washington took his oath as the first President of the United States in 1789.

The actual building was built in 1842 in a Greek style with Corinthian columns. It was inspired by the Parthenon in Athenes.

You can visit the historical museum..
Federal Hall National Memorial ( Internet web site )

Federal Reserve Bank of New York
33 Liberty St. Visit within a guided tour - Year round Monday to Friday 10:30am and 11:30am ,
1:30pm and 2:30pm - Visit around 45 minutes
Closed on major holidays.
Reservations required - Phone 212 720 6130.

Florentine style palace completed in 1924.
Federal Reserve contains the gold reserve of more than 80 countries

Sightseeing by area

Getting there
Subway:
Lines 4 and 5 to Bowling Green
Lines N and R to Whitehall Street