Capital of Capital: New York's Banks and the Creation of a Global Economy

Capital of Capital: New York's Banks and the Creation of a Global Economy explores how the economic dynamo that is New York was made possible in great measure by its innovative and controversial banking sector. Tracing the trajectory of the city’s banks from the founding of the Bank of New York by Alexander Hamilton in 1784 to their primacy in today’s nation and world, the exhibition utilizes rare historical objects and images, including banking instruments, architectural renderings, and advertisements, to tell a fascinating saga of growth, innovation, and, at times, unintended consequences. In so doing, it also reveals how New York City’s particular circumstances—geography, human capital, and political alignments—helped make finance a major component not only of Gotham’s economy but also of its identity.

Capital of Capital: New York's Banks and the Creation of a Global Economy is made possible by

Featured image: City Trust dollar bill, 1839. Museum of the City of New York, 52.67.2

Capital of Capital: New York's Banks and the Creation of a Global Economy Educator Resource Guide