[1] The historic district's street plan originated in the colonial era.

It "reflects medieval European town patterns rather than the standard grid found throughout much of Manhattan, and together with the district's towering skyscrapers it creates the narrow 'canyons' for which the area is so famous.

"[2] Within the historic district are 21 sites that are individually (i.e., separately) listed on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP), as follows:[3] Two further buildings within the Wall Street Historic District are individually listed on the New York State Register of Historic Places, but not the NRHP.

[3] A number of additional buildings within the district are listed as landmarks by the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission but not by the NRHP or New York State Register of Historic Places.

[3] The district's street pattern is also a New York City Landmark.