The name of the street originates from an actual wall that was
built in the 17th century by the Dutch, who were living in what
was then called New Amsterdam. The 12-foot (4 meter) wall was
built to protect the Dutch against attacks from pirates and
various Native American tribes, and to keep out other potential
dangers.
The area near the wall became known as Wall Street. Because of
its prime location running the width of Manhattan between the
East River and the Hudson River the road developed into one of
the busiest trading areas in the entire city. During 1699, the
wall was dismantled by the British colonial government, but the
name of the street remained.
The financial industry got its official start on Wall Street on
May 17, 1792. On that day, New York's first official stock
exchange was established by the signing of the Buttonwood
Agreement, named because it was signed under a buttonwood tree
that early traders and speculators had previously gathered
around to trade informally, gave birth to what is now the
modern-day New York Stock Exchange NYSE.