Photo © Francis Guy, Library of Congress (LOC)

Tontine Coffee House

Description

Established, 1793

The Tontine Coffee House, served as a key meeting place for traders, brokers, and various social classes. Funded by a tontine investment plan, it became a central hub for business dealings, auctions, and even political demonstrations, marking its significance in financial history.

Rebuilt, 1855

It survived the Great Fire of 1835 and was demolished in the spring of 1855 to make way for a larger Tontine coffee house.

Demolished, 1905

The building later became a tavern (1826), hotel (1832), and was eventually demolished in 1905.

Related Sites

4 total, Show more

New York Stock Exchange-The coffee house was instrumental in the early development of the New York Stock Exchange. By 1817, trading activities had outgrown the venue, leading to the creation of the New York Stock and Exchange Board.

Buttonwood Agreement-The coffee house played a significant role in the financial history of the city, serving as the meeting place for the signatories of the Buttonwood Agreement, which eventually led to the formation of the New York Stock Exchange.

Slave Market on Wall Street-The coffee house also provided a place for the registration of ship cargo and the trading of slaves.

Map View