Exchange Pl, Financial District

Fun fact about Exchange Place: though it does run into the New York Stock Exchange, the street is actually named for the Merchant's Exchange built in 1825. And, another fun fact is that the first building on the street (1 Exchange) is built on the site of an orchard owned by Hendrick Van Dyck. He murdered a Native American woman picking a peach and started the last Indian attack on New York city in 1655. We think people are bad now, but apparently, people were always killed for dumb reasons like a peach.
The corner of Exchange and Broadway houses the Bank of New York building. This is the oldest bank in New York. It was started in the 18th century with help from Alexander Hamilton and funded the New York City subway system. I don't know anyone that banks here, though, so I'm not sure that I can even say it's still running. That would be awesome if it were, though. The next corner holds another famous monied entity: the New York Stock Exchange. It was started under a tree on Wall Street in 1792 and not permanently moved indoors until 1836. And, just down at William is where all of the indoor traders eat. Cipriani Downtown is part upscale restaurant part trendy nightlife scene that has in recent years gotten a little sad. But, the power lunch is still alive and well at this place. And, the building is pretty cool and has been around since the 1820's.
Exchange Place ends at a luxury apartment building that used to be the headquarters of a big brokerage back in the 1920's. Essentially, the entire street is taken up by money exchange in some way. So, there's not a lot to do here unless you're a banker or broker. But, the buildings are cool and I guess the power lunching is adequate. This street is insanely busy during the day and a ghost town at night, though, so I would never want to live on it.

When you live in a city you become used to the places you visit to join up journeys but when you are travelling, you can be too busy concentrating on knowing where you are and planning your next move that you don’t take the location in. Exchange Place is one of these locations but if you have the time stop and breathe for a few minutes and indulge in some people watching, as this place encapsulates so much about NYC.

Whenever you are in the Wall St. area of downtown Manhattan at one point or another in you day you will find yourself on Exchange Place. Whether it is to catch the subway or the Path trains or to go to a lunch this is one of the main thorough fares you will travel on while in the area.
On most days you will find vendors out in the street selling their wares along with the "dirty water" dog frankfurter stands.