When the Fearless Girl statue showed up on Wall Street in 2017, she took New York by storm. Though she was small, she was mighty. Standing at less than 5 feet, the statue held her ground against the powerful Charging Bull statue — with the massive animal looming over her — and made a statement for women in the workplace everywhere.
The beacon of the Financial District may have found a new home in 2018, but she doesn’t seem to be going anywhere else any time soon. She should be a part of any trip to New York City. If you’re going to pass through Lower Manhattan, make sure you stop by and snap a picture with her. But before you do, read about her history, learn how to visit the sculpture, and see what else you should do in the area while you’re here.
History of the Fearless Girl statue
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Fearless Girl, by sculptor Kristen Visbal, was first installed near the Charging Bull statue on Wall Street on March 7, 2017, one day before International Women’s Day. It was brought in by State Street Global Advisors (SSGA) in a project created by advertising agency McCann New York and helmed by Senior Art Director Lizzie Wilson and Senior Copywriter Tali Gumbiner.
The girl, who is 50 inches tall and weighs 250 pounds, is a symbol of gender diversity in the workplace and is meant to symbolize a need to bring in more women. She has her hands on her hips and her chin up in a sign of strength rather than belligerence, as she was meant to stand firm next to the Charging Bull rather than defiant. The creators behind her wanted her to be relatable.
She was installed with a plaque that read, “Know the power of women in leadership. SHE makes a difference.” SHE was also capitalized to signify the SSGA’s NASDAQ ticker symbol.
When Fearless Girl was originally placed near the Charging Bull, the intention was for her to be there for a week. However, she was so beloved that her time there was quickly extended. First, it was extended to 30 days and then to a year. Eventually, she was moved in November 2018 to a new home by the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE).
After she was moved, a plaque was left behind by Charging Bull that read, “Fearless Girl is on the move to the New York Stock Exchange. Until she’s there, stand for her.” There were also footprints left behind where people could take photos where she once stood.
The problem with Fearless Girl
While the general public was enamored with the Fearless Girl, there was at least one person who didn’t like her: Charging Bull’s sculptor Arturo Di Modica.
He argued with the city officials who were keeping her planted on Wall Street, and he was part of her eventual move to the NYSE building. According to The New York Times, the artist claimed the girl was “attacking” the bull and was an insult to his work.
How to visit the Fearless Girl statue
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The Fearless Girl currently stands facing the New York Stock Exchange building on Broad Street, between Wall Street and Exchange Place. If you’re taking a subway from a nearby neighborhood, the closest stations are Broad Street J/Z, Wall Street 2/3, Wall Street 4/5, and Rector Street R/W.
Fearless Girl is completely free to visit, but there may be lines and wait times for photos. Busy times for tourists in the city are when you’d expect: holidays and weekends. However, photos go pretty quickly; just be patient!
Local tip: Go first thing in the morning to get your photos before going about your day. You’ll be able to see the Fearless Girl before most other tourists have set out for the day and get your photos before any crowds start stacking up. Grab a coffee from the Blue Bottle next to the NYSE on your way to start your day right!
What’s nearby the Fearless Girl statue
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There’s plenty to do in the area around the Fearless Girl statue. Considering it should only take you about 30 minutes to snap a few powerful photos with her, you could easily build a whole great itinerary in lower Manhattan around this point.
See the whole area on one of our guided tours, which will show you sites like the Charging Bull, the New York Stock Exchange, and other Financial District spots. If you’re a fan of Succession, we highly recommend hitching a ride on our guided tour of filming locations from the show — all through lower Manhattan!
You can also stop by Trinity Church and learn its rich history and jog on over to the Seaport. There you’ll find shops and restaurants as well. Plus, if it’s warm-weather months, you might even be able to catch a concert at Pier 17. It’s one of the most unique concert venues you’ll find: a small rooftop venue that gives you views of both the city and Brooklyn.
Featured photo: By Anthony Quintano / CC BY 2.0 DEED