Wall Street, New York City

A view of Wall Street, looking west toward Trinity Church, from near William Street, 1850s. Drawn by Félix Thorigny (1824-1870) and engraved by Eug. Aubert. Published by Garnier frères, Paris. Source: Fundação Biblioteca Nacional (Brazil).

This is a similar drawing to that of German artist Augustus Köllner, dated 1847, except for the additional trees and the viewing angle.

In the first decades of the 19th century, both residences and businesses occupied the area, but increasingly business predominated. The opening of the Erie Canal in 1825 meant a boom in business for New York, since it was the only major eastern seaport with direct access by waterways to ports on the Great Lakes. Wall Street became the financial capital of the United States.