The square was named for the
House of Hanover in 1714 when
King George I ascended to the throne. For many years, Hanover Square was the center of New York's
commercial market, with the
New York Cotton Exchange at
1 Hanover Square, on the square's southwest corner; the
New York Cocoa Exchange, now the
New York Board of Trade; and others nearby. The square was also known as "Printing House Square". The
Great Fire of New York broke out here on December 16, 1835, decimating much of Lower Manhattan. 3 Hanover Square, a former home to the New York Cotton Exchange, and 10 Hanover Square, a former office building, were converted to residential use. The elevated
IRT Third Avenue Line had a
station above the square from 1878 until 1950. Upon the removal of the elevated, a park at Hanover Square was dedicated in November 1951. The
Queen Elizabeth II Garden (originally the British Garden at Hanover Square) opened in June 2008. Following
Queen Elizabeth II's visit of Hanover Square in July 2010, the garden was rededicated as a memorial park for
Commonwealth realm citizens who died at the
September 11 attacks in May 2012. ==Transportation==