[2][9] In the spring of 1790, Thomas Jefferson rented a house at 57 Maiden Lane when he moved to New York to serve as the Secretary of State under George Washington.

[2][13] The slip at the foot of Maiden Lane was infilled in the early 19th century, accounting for the widened stretch in the last blocks before South Street, the present waterfront.

[14] The water of the erstwhile brook ran down the center of the street, until 1827, when a suggestion was made in Common Council to close it over and lead rainwater to the side gutters.

[15] One of the handful of mid-19th century commercial structures still standing in the Financial District, is 90–94 Maiden Lane, built for Roosevelt & Son, with a cast-iron front (attributed to Charles Wright, 1870–71) by Daniel D.

[17][18] In 1894 developers Boehm & Coon erected the ten story Diamond Exchange Building on 14 Maiden Lane, which was specially designed to accommodate the heavy safes used by gem dealers.

[19] According to a New York Times article in 1924, "the bride-to-be who could show a ring from Maiden Lane was thrice happy" because of the abundance of jewelry stores.