New York Produce Exchange

The New York Produce Exchange was a commodities market housed in a monumental building at 2 Broadway, where agricultural products changed hands daily. The structure contained a massive trading floor designed to accommodate hundreds of dealers conducting transactions simultaneously.

The exchange was founded in 1861 as the New York Commercial Association and relocated to a purpose-built structure in 1884 designed by architect George B. Post. The building became a symbol of New York's role in American commerce and remained a center for commodity trading for decades.

The exchange was where farmers and dealers gathered to negotiate produce prices and establish fair trading terms. Over time, the space became central to how agricultural commerce was conducted across the United States.

The original building no longer exists as the property was redeveloped in the 1950s, so visitors cannot enter the trading floor today. Understanding the site's role requires exploring the surrounding Financial District where new structures now stand and researching its historical documentation.

The building was an architectural pioneer, combining wrought iron and masonry in its structural framework in a way that was groundbreaking for its era. This engineering approach influenced how other commercial buildings were designed in the decades that followed.

Location: Manhattan

Inception: 1884

GPS coordinates: 40.70472,-74.01306

Latest update: December 10, 2025 15:49