The New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), often called “The Big Board,” is the largest stock exchange in the world by dollar volume and ranks second in the number of companies listed on its exchange.

The exchange is located in Manhattan at 11 Wall Street (between Broad & New), but actually consists of five building, or “rooms,” that are used for trading. The main building (18 Broad Street, between Wall Street & Exchange Place) is a National Historic Landmark.

The roots of the NYSE reach back to 1792 at the Buttonwood Agreement. From that agreement, named for the buttonwood tree that it was signed beneath, the current concept of trading grew. The exchange’s current location is not far from its original location at 40 Wall Street, but the building, like the system of trading, has grown exponentially since the beginning.

When I first walked by the exchange, a couple of things raced through my mind. First, I thought about our whole capitalistic system, and what part the exchange played in all of that. Then, I thought about the movies that portrayed a frenzy on the trading floor (“Wall Street” and “Trading Places”). Then, I wondered if any of that was true — so I stood outside the door, hoping that when someone went in or out, that I’d be able to see something. No luck!

Unfortunately, and due to heightened security restrictions, the exchange no longer offers public tours. A call to their public office reaches a recording that says that it is closed to tours indefinitely, and that they are not taking appointments. That number is (212) 656-5168.

For now, you’ll have to content yourself with a walk by this historical location, and maybe if you stand around long enough, you’ll get a glimpse at what’s inside.

The exchange can be reached by subway: 2, 3, 4, or 5 to Wall Street, or the N, R, or W to Rector.

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There are a number of free events virtually everyday.  Highlights of the summer festival include:

• Otis Clay and Ryan Shaw June 11  Free
• Sonic Youth  July 4  Free
• Folk Music Festival on Governors Island  July 26  Free
• The Big River Project: The Music of Johnny Cash  July 26  Free
• Seaport Music Festival  August 8   Free
• Latin Giants of Jazz  September 3  Free

For more information, a full list of events, and to sign up for mobile alerts, check out the River to River event sight.    

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The permanent collection spans more than 10,000 years of native history, a significant portion of which is dedicated to the natives of North America and Hawaii.  Also represented are the indigenous cultures of Central and South America.  The museum also offers a range of public programs—including music and dance performances, films, and symposia.    

The exhibitions are all conceived and designed by Native American artists.  Currently on exhibit:

• Listening to Our Ancestors: The Art of Native Life Along the North Pacific Coast explores how the natives of the Pacific Northwest continue their time-honored traditions.  Through July 20, 2008.
• Beauty Surrounds Us is an exhibition of 77 objects from the museum’s permanent collection that will inaugurate the new Diker Pavilion for Native Arts and Cultures.  Through March 31, 2010.

Location: 1 Bowling Green (map) 212-514-3700

Subway: 4, 5 to Bowling Green; 1 to South Ferry

Days and Hours:  Monday-Wednesday and Friday-Sunday 10am-5pm; Thursday 10am-8pm.

Cost:  Free

Check out last week’s Museum Monday post on the Whitney Museum of American Art.  Museum Monday continues next week with a post on the Merchant House Museum.   

Photo credit: flickr

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Governors Island

As a former military post, Governors Island had roles in the Revolutionary War, and virtually every other major U.S. military engagement including the War of 1812, Civil War, World War I, World War II, and the Gulf War.  Sixty-four of the island’s 225 buildings have been designated as historic. 

Since the sale back to the people of New York, visiting the 172-acre Governors Island has never been easier. Free ferries cross the harbor between Manhattan and Governors Island at least hourly.  Once on the island visitors may partake in the scheduled events, biking, or tours.  In a bid to become a summertime destination for New Yorkers, Governors Island is hosting weekend events ranging from art exhibits to music.  For a full list of scheduled activities, click here. 

Though just a few years ago the future of Governors Island seemed uncertain, this year will mark the groundbreaking of a newly redesigned 40-acre park which will feature a 2.2 mile waterfront promenade, and restoration of 33 acres of historic landscape, ultimately creating over 100-acres of public green space.

Getting There:  Ferries depart from Manhattan at the Battery Maritime Building located on the corner of South Street and Whitehall Street (map).  Click here for a ferry schedule. 

Days and Hours: Friday 10am-5pm; Saturday and Sunday 10am-7pm.  Open seasonally May 31st until October 5th.

Cost:  Ferry and park are both Free

Photo credit (top to bottom): flickr, flickr;

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The floor plan takes visitors through eight galleries dedicated to single-sports, each full of artifacts and memorabilia from each sport: football, hockey, tennis, golf, soccer, basketball, auto-racing, and baseball.  There are also several galleries devoted to sports themes, such as “Breaking Barriers” which highlights the achievements of athletes like Jackie Robinson, a gallery dedicated to the Olympics, and The Heisman Gallery which is the new home of the Heisman Trophy.      

The hefty price tag ($27) will keep many people away, but for die-hard sports fans willing to spend at least a few hours in the museum, the Sports Museum of America may just be the hottest ticket in town. 

Location:  Sports Museum of America, 26 Broadway, (map), 212-747-0900

Subway:  4, 5 to Bowling Green; 1, R, W to Rector Street; 2, 3 to Wall Street; J, M, Z to Broad Street

Hours:  Monday-Friday 9am-7pm (last ticket sold at 5:30pm), Saturday, Sunday 9am-9pm (last ticket sold at 7:30pm)

Cost:  Adults $27, Seniors and Students $24, Children 4-14 $20, Children under 4 Free

Check out last week’s “Museum Monday” entry on The Museum of the City of New York.

Photo credit:  Lou Gehrig 1939 game-worn Yankee’s jersey, courtesy Sports Museum of America; Mark Meisser Ranger’s jersey, courtesy Sports Museum of America

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the Irish Hunger Memorial, located on Vesey Street and North End Avenue, near Battery Park, pays homage to those that died in the Great Irish Famine of 1845-1852 and those that die from famines that continue to plague the world.  All of the soil, vegetation, and stones used were brought from Ireland to create the memorial.    

Photo Credit:  DavidShankBone at Wikimedia

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The outside of the New York Stock Exchange building in the Financial District of Manhattan. 

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The Charging Bull on Wall Street is a much-photographed bronze statue in the Financial District of New York’s Wall Street.  In honor of the housing market, financial market, and the fact that 1,000 USD = 672 EUR I decided to photograph the Wall Street Bull from a different angle.

Photo credit:  personal collection

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See how Manhattan glimmers in the early morning sun and Lady Liberty’s torch is a beacon in the night sky.  Some of the best views of Manhattan can be seen from the waters of New York Harbor.  Luckily you don’t need one of those mega-yachts docked at North Cove Marina to cruise the harbor. 

Guidebooks recommend taking a sightseeing tour and most visitors to New York choose Circle Line Tours Downtown.  Circle Line offers a selection of tours, the most popular being the cruise of New York’s Liberty Harbor.  The tour on the newly renovated Miss New York lasts sixty minutes and costs $15.  There are very few sailings during the winter months; daily sailings begin mid-March with five sailings per day and continue through the summer with up to seven sailings per day.  

But I recommend you mingle with some of the 60,000 New Yorkers that make the daily commute from Staten Island to Manhattan by taking a cruise on the Staten Island Ferry. 

The Staten Island Ferry may just be the best bargain in all of Manhattan.  The 25-minute ride from Manhattan’s Battery to St. George, Staten Island is free and provides spectacular views of the south end of Manhattan and Statue of Liberty.  The ferry operates 24-hours a day, every 15 minutes during peak time and every 30-minutes during non-peak times.  Added bonus: the ferry sells some of the cheapest beer I have ever purchased in Manhattan.

Manhattan Pier Location: Staten Island Ferry-South Ferry Pier, Whitehall Street (at State Street) map 

Subway: R/W to Whitewall Street-South Ferry or 1 to South Ferry

Cost:  Free

Staten Island Ferry photo from personal collection

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