The Arts in New York City

2 thoughts on “Financial District: Rich In Culture”

  1. After looking through the culture guide, I never realized just how much of history has happened in the Financial District and how much importance it holds for the United States economy. One example was the Great Depression which happened after the stock market crashed. I didn’t realize that the reputation of the people working in the Financial District was tarnished because of this historical event. The most surprising spot that I learned more about was the Charging Bull. I’ve always known about this sculpture because it was very famous and people like taking picture with it. But I never realized its connection to the Financial District. I was surprised to learn that the bull was supposed to represent the bull of the stock market, which represents prosperity and good times as opposed to a bear market, which is supposed to represent harder times. I knew of the bull and bear market and I always knew about the Charging Bull statue, but putting two and two together, I was shocked to learn that the sculpture represented the bull market, almost like a good omen. One place that I’d recommend adding to the guide would be the Alexander Hamilton U.S. Custom House which was built by the federal government with the purpose of housing the duty collections. This would be a worthwhile place to visit because of its educational and historical aspect of the spot.

  2. I was interested in The Financial District Urban Cultural guide because although I take the ferry everyday and pass by many of the cultural centers, I never seek to find out their history. I was surprised to learn that New York City was actually the capital of the United States for a period of time. I always knew that it was an important center of commerce but I had never ventured to guess that I also used to be the political center of the United States at one time. It almost makes me wonder what New York city would look like had it stayed as the capital of the United States. I liked that the group included not just the financial institutions such as the New York Stock Exchange in the district but also other cultural landmarks in this area such as The American Indian Museum, which I have visited and highly recommend. One thing that is not in the Financial District but I recommend is the Staten Island Ferry. The ferry is just minutes away from the financial district. A free ride on the ferry can not only provide a picturesque view of the city and the Statue of Liberty, but also allow one to appreciate the City from afar. Looking at this urban cultural guide, I learned a lot about the rich history behind these cultural landmarks that I pass everyday.

Leave a Reply