NEW
YORK, March 6 (Xinhua) -- Wall Street and its environ located in lower Manhattan
have been listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places as recognition
of the importance of the area both historically and architecturally, local media
reported on Tuesday.
The listing became official at a ceremony Monday at
the Federal Hall which was the site of George Washington's inauguration in 1789
and the former 19th century customs house.
"It's possible that no single area tells the story of
America's progression from a primarily rural nation to a diverse industrial
society as well as the Wall Street Historic District," said Steven McClain,
president of the National Architectural Trust, in a statement.
The 36-block area known as the Wall Street Historic
District was where the Bill of Rights was adopted, George Washington was sworn
in, the New York Stock Exchange was founded under a sycamore tree, J.P. Morgan
made his fortune and New York experienced its terrorist attack in 2001.
It was the 1929 Great Depression, more than any other
event, that turned Wall Street, originally a lumpy cow path used by Dutch
settlers, into a global synonym for capitalism, high finance and deals that
change the world.
The National Register, administered by the National
Parks Service, recognizes historically and architecturally significant
structures or areas. It does not bar or severely limit changes in existing
structures, but it does provide federal tax benefits and preservation grants for
some projects.
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