U.S, Stock Market History

  • Stockade in Manhattan

    Stockade in Manhattan
    A 12-foot-high wood stockade is erected across lower Manhattan from river to river to protect Dutch settlers from attacks by the British and Indians.
  • Wallstreet

    Wallstreet
    Surveyors lay out Wall Street along the line of the stockade.
  • US investment's are born

    US investment's are born
    The federal government refinances all federal and state Revolutionary War debt, issuing $80 million in bonds. These become the first major issues of publicly traded securities, marking the birth of the U.S. investment markets.
  • Buttonwood tree

    Buttonwood tree
    24 merchants from New York met under a Buttonwood tree to form the New York Stock Exchange. The stock exchange building was located at 11 Wall St. in New York City.
  • The Great Fire

    The Great Fire
    The Great Fire destroys over 700 buildings in lower Manhattan. The NYS&EB moves to temporary headquarters.
  • The Telegraph

    The Telegraph
    The telegraph is invented, broadening market participation by facilitating communication with brokers and investors outside New York City
  • Civil War begins

    Civil War begins
    With the outbreak of the Civil War the NYS&BE suspend trading in seceding states.
  • New York Stock and Exchange Changes Name

    New York Stock and Exchange Changes Name
    The New York Stock & Exchange Board becomes the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE).
  • Lincoln's assasination

    Lincoln's assasination
    The stock market is closed for two weeks following the death of President Lincoln.
  • The first stock ticker

    The first stock ticker
    Invented by Edward A. Calahan, the stock ticker revolutionizes the stock market by bringing current prices to investors everywhere.
  • Gold speculation ruins stock market!

    Gold speculation ruins stock market!
    On September 24, gold speculation resulted in "Black Friday."
  • NYSE Establishes Clearing House

    NYSE Establishes Clearing House
    The New York Stock Exchange Clearing House is organized to centralize and expedite the transfer of securities from broker to broker.
  • New location

    New location
    The NYSE moves to their current location at 18 Broad Street.
  • Longest Exchange Shutdown

    Longest Exchange Shutdown
    WWI causes securities exchanges around the world suspend operations to stop plunging prices. The NYSE closes its doors and doens't open for 4 and a half months.
  • Securities Market Grows

    Securities Market Grows
    After the Civil War ended the securities market began to grow in New York. Government bonds, banks and insurance stocks trade now.
  • Black Thursday

    Black Thursday
    Five days later, the market crashes on a level that wouldn't be surpassed for 39 years. It becomes known as the Great Depression.
  • First women member

    First women member
    Muriel Siebert becomes the first woman member of the Exchange.
  • NYSE Not-for-Profit

    NYSE Not-for-Profit
    The NYSE is incorporated as a not-for-profit corporation.
  • Foreign brokers

    Foreign brokers
    Foreign brokers are admitted to NYSE.
  • 10,000!

    10,000!
    DJIA exceeds 10,000.