The new nation's first securities were bonds authorized by the first Congress in 1790. They were traded under a buttonwood tree at what is now 68 Wall Street. The New York Stock Exchange traces its beginnings to those early al fresco stockbrokers.

Its headquarters today is this roman-like temple of finance by George B. Post which dates to 1903. The pediment has an interesting title: "Integrity Protecting the Works of Man."

Though the building is nearly a century old and its style centuries older, the trading done inside is state-of-the-art electronic: computers have replaced voice and gesture trading.

Ironically, behind the architecturally state-of-the-art Mercantile Exchange in nearby Battery Park City, the trading is manual and noisily vocal. You'll visit that exchange at the end of this tour.

As for the New York Stock Exchange, it is bursting at the seams and seeks more adjacent space or a new site. New York City is determined to keep it in the Wall Street area.