About Financial District
The first area to be settled by the Dutch, Lower Manhattan – with Wall Street and the Battery as its most famous residents – reflects the changing tides of the city. Great walking tours are offered, but be sure and bring a map because the streets (some dating from the early 18th century) can be tough to navigate. Long a symbol of financial power and wealth, Wall Street houses some of the world's most powerful financial insitutions, including the New York and American Stock Exchanges. On the tip of Manhattan, Battery Park offers unparalleled views of the confluence of the Hudson and East Rivers. History comes alive at South Street Seaport, where the city's vitality as a 19th-century shipping powerhouse is remembered. The Battery also offers access to two of America's enduring symbols: Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty.
