You've probably seen the Charging Bull in pictures, postcards, or movies. This massive bronze sculpture has become one of the most recognizable landmarks in Lower Manhattan and one of the most popular photo stops in New York City.
Located in the Financial District near Bowling Green, the Charging Bull is often called the Wall Street Bull, although the statue is not actually located on Wall Street. It has become a symbol of financial strength and optimism and is one of the most photographed landmarks in Lower Manhattan.
The Charging Bull is also the starting point of our Lower Manhattan Walking Tour, making it a natural place to begin exploring the historic Financial District with a local guide.
And whether you think the Charging Bull is a must-see or an overrated attraction, there's one thing we can tell you from experience: almost everyone wants a photo with it.
On This Page
- A Brief History
- How to Get Here
- Fearless Girl Statue
- Tours of Wall Street
- Tours by Foot
- Things to See in Lower Manhattan
Explore the Charging Bull and Lower Manhattan
The Charging Bull is just one of many historic landmarks you'll see on our Lower Manhattan Walking Tour. The tour continues through the Financial District and Wall Street, with stops at some of the most important sites in New York City's history.
Learn more about our Lower Manhattan Walking Tour.
History of the Charging Bull
The Charging Bull has several nicknames, including the Wall Street Bull, Raging Bull, New York Bull, Financial District Bull, and Bowling Green Bull. They're all names for the same iconic bronze sculpture in Lower Manhattan.
The 7,100-pound bronze bull was created by Italian-American artist Arturo Di Modica. It first appeared in Lower Manhattan on December 15, 1989, when Di Modica secretly installed it near the New York Stock Exchange as a gift to New York City.
But the story of how the Charging Bull arrived on Wall Street is almost as interesting as the sculpture itself.
Di Modica created the bull without being commissioned. He paid for the project himself and wanted the sculpture to represent strength, determination, and optimism following the 1987 stock market crash.
He transported the enormous sculpture from his studio in SoHo during the early morning hours and placed it beneath a Christmas tree near the New York Stock Exchange. His plan was to leave the bull there as a surprise.
The surprise worked—but not quite as Di Modica intended.
When Wall Street workers arrived that morning, they discovered the enormous bronze bull beneath the Christmas tree. The sculpture quickly became popular, but city officials removed it later that day because of concerns about traffic and safety.
Fortunately, the story didn't end there.
The New York City Parks Department found a permanent home for the Charging Bull in Bowling Green, just south of Wall Street. The city accepted the sculpture as a gift, and it was installed at its current location a few days later.
The Charging Bull has remained one of Lower Manhattan's most recognizable landmarks ever since.
Meaning and Symbolism of the Charging Bull
The Charging Bull was created by Italian-American sculptor Arturo Di Modica, who wanted the sculpture to represent strength, determination, and optimism.
Di Modica was born in Vittoria, Sicily, in 1941 and moved to New York City in 1973. He established a studio in SoHo, where he created the Charging Bull.
The sculpture was not commissioned by a company, the New York Stock Exchange, or the City of New York. Di Modica conceived the project himself and paid for the materials and construction.
The bull was inspired in part by the stock market crash of 1987. Di Modica wanted to create something positive for New York and the American people during a difficult economic period.
The bull has long been associated with strength and rising financial markets. Di Modica said his sculpture represented the “power of the American people.”
The sculpture's pose reinforces that idea. The bull is 11 feet tall and 18 feet long, with its head lowered, nostrils flaring, and powerful muscles appearing ready to propel it forward.
Its stance gives the impression that the bull is charging ahead rather than standing still. That sense of movement and determination is part of what has made the sculpture such an enduring symbol of New York's Financial District.
How Did the Charging Bull Get to Wall Street?
The story of the sculpture's arrival is almost as famous as the bull itself.
Di Modica had the enormous bronze sculpture transported from his SoHo studio during the early morning hours of December 15, 1989. He intended to leave it near the New York Stock Exchange as a surprise gift to New York.
When he arrived, however, a large Christmas tree had been installed in the area. With his original plan disrupted, Di Modica placed the bull beneath the tree and left.
Wall Street workers discovered the sculpture that morning. Although city officials removed it later that day, public interest helped save the bull from disappearing.
The City of New York eventually accepted the sculpture and found it a permanent home at Bowling Green, where it remains today.
For a more in-depth history and interesting anecdotes, see below.
Where Is the Charging Bull in New York City?
The Charging Bull is located in Bowling Green Park in Lower Manhattan's Financial District, near Broadway and Morris Street.
Despite its nickname, the Wall Street Bull is not actually located on Wall Street. The sculpture stands just south of Wall Street, near the northern end of Bowling Green.
The Charging Bull is within walking distance of many of Lower Manhattan's most famous landmarks, including Wall Street, the New York Stock Exchange, Federal Hall, Trinity Church, and the 9/11 Memorial.
The Charging Bull is also the starting point for our Lower Manhattan Walking Tour, making it a convenient place to begin exploring the Financial District.
For directions from your starting point to the Bull, use this Google map for exact directions.
How to Get to the Charging Bull
By subway
The closest subway stations include:
- 4 and 5 to Bowling Green
- 1 to Rector Street or South Ferry
- R and W to Whitehall Street
- J and Z to Broad Street
- 2, 3, 4, 5, A, C, J, Z to Fulton Street, followed by a walk south on Broadway
From Bowling Green Station, it's only a short walk to the Charging Bull.
TIP: If you are new to riding the subway, check out our posts on navigating the New York Subway.
By bus
The M55 runs along Fifth Avenue in Midtown before continuing downtown. Other MTA bus routes also serve the Financial District.
If you're visiting Lower Manhattan by hop-on-hop-off bus, check the route and current stop locations before traveling, as stops can change.
Read our comparison post on New York City bus tours.
When Is the Best Time to Visit the Charging Bull?
The Charging Bull is outdoors and accessible to the public, so you can see it at any time.
The area can get particularly crowded during the day, especially when visitors are waiting to take photographs. For a quieter experience, consider visiting earlier in the morning.
And don't forget to look beyond the bull itself. Bowling Green, Broadway, and the surrounding Financial District are filled with historic landmarks that are easy to explore on foot.
Fearless Girl Statue
The Fearless Girl statue is another famous landmark in Lower Manhattan, but she is no longer standing opposite the Charging Bull.
The bronze statue was unveiled on March 8, 2017 — International Women's Day — and quickly became one of New York City's most recognizable public artworks. Created by artist Kristen Visbal, Fearless Girl was originally installed facing the Charging Bull.
The statue was intended to draw attention to the lack of women in corporate leadership. Her confident stance, with hands on her hips and her head held high, was designed to symbolize the strength and potential of women in the workplace.
Fearless Girl was initially supposed to be a temporary installation, but her popularity led to calls for her to remain in New York.
Where Is Fearless Girl Now?
Fearless Girl was moved to her current location in front of the New York Stock Exchange at 11 Wall Street.
If you're visiting the Charging Bull, you can easily see both landmarks as part of a walk through the Financial District. The New York Stock Exchange is only a few blocks north of the Charging Bull.
Fearless Girl is also one of the landmarks you'll encounter when exploring Lower Manhattan and Wall Street.
Charging Bull Facts and Fun Facts
The Charging Bull has become one of the most popular photo stops in Lower Manhattan, attracting visitors from around the world.
Here are a few interesting facts about the famous sculpture.
Why Do People Rub the Bull's Horns?
Visitors have developed their own traditions around the Charging Bull, including rubbing its horns, nose, and the other polished parts of the sculpture for good luck.
The tradition has become so popular that these areas of the bronze are noticeably shinier than the rest of the sculpture.
Watch this video of our Lower Manhattan Tour.
The Charging Bull has become much more than a symbol of Wall Street. Over the years, it has inspired some unusual traditions, attracted plenty of attention, and even sparked legal battles.
Why Do People Rub the Charging Bull?
If you visit the Charging Bull, you'll notice that the bull's horns, nose, and the area beneath its tail are noticeably shinier than the rest of the sculpture.
That's because visitors have developed a tradition of rubbing these parts of the bull for good luck.
One of the most popular myths is that rubbing the bull's bronze anatomy is supposed to bring financial good fortune. Whether you believe it or not, it's become part of the experience for many visitors.
The statue is so popular that people line up throughout the day to take photographs with it.
Some Visitors Take the Photo Opportunity Too Far
Visitors have been known to climb on the Charging Bull, particularly around its horns. Some have slipped or fallen while doing so.
It's worth remembering that this is a massive bronze sculpture, not a playground. You don't need to climb on it to get a good photograph.
There are also plenty of stories surrounding the bull that have become part of its folklore. Downtown Alliance security guards have told of a woman who reportedly visits the statue every December 15, the anniversary of its installation, to kiss the bull's rear end.
On particularly cold days, the story goes, guards have even had to bring water to help separate her lips from the cold bronze.
What Happened to the Charging Bull During Occupy Wall Street?
The Charging Bull has been at the center of several major moments in New York's history.
In 2011, Occupy Wall Street protesters established their encampment in nearby Zuccotti Park. Because the Charging Bull became a gathering point for visitors and protesters, barricades and additional security were installed around the sculpture.
The bull has continued to attract large crowds ever since.
Why Has the Charging Bull Been Involved in Lawsuits?
The Charging Bull is protected by copyright, and artist Arturo Di Modica has taken legal action against companies and organizations that he believed used the sculpture's image without permission.
Di Modica spent about two years creating the original sculpture, which was cast in sections, assembled, and polished at his studio in SoHo.
The sculpture's popularity has made the Charging Bull one of the most recognizable images associated with New York's Financial District.
Are There Other Charging Bulls Around the World?
The Charging Bull in New York is not the only bull created by Arturo Di Modica.
The artist envisioned a series of sculptures that could be installed in cities around the world. Other versions have appeared in cities including Shanghai and Amsterdam.
The Shanghai bull, known as the Bund Bull, was installed in 2010 near the Bund. It is similar to the New York sculpture but is not identical. Di Modica gave it a somewhat different pose and appearance, reflecting his view of China's growing economy.
Another bull was installed in Amsterdam in 2012 near the headquarters of Euronext, the company that operates several European stock exchanges. Di Modica intended the sculpture as a positive symbol during a difficult period for European financial markets.
The New York Charging Bull, however, remains the original and the most famous of Di Modica's bulls.
The Charging Bull Today
More than three decades after it first appeared in Lower Manhattan, the Charging Bull remains one of New York City's most popular landmarks.
It has become a symbol of the Financial District, a favorite photo stop for visitors, and an easy starting point for exploring Wall Street and the surrounding historic streets of Lower Manhattan.
The Charging Bull is also the starting point for our Lower Manhattan Walking Tour, where you'll continue on to many of the area's historic landmarks and hear the stories behind them from a local guide.
