The Dow Jones Industrial Average crossed 50,000 points.

It’s a significant milestone for a stock market index that traces its history back to the late 19th century.

The Dow was established in 1896 by journalists Charles Dow and Edward Jones. The index initially followed 12 of the US’ most influential companies at the time, including General Electric, the American Tobacco Company and the Tennessee Coal, Iron and Railroad Company.

The Dow in 1928 expanded to include 30 companies, including Standard Oil, Sears Roebuck and Chrysler.

The Dow’s components still include 30 companies. Different companies have rotated in and out of the index since its inception to reflect the changing US economy.

McDonald’s joined the Dow in 1985, and Nvidia joined the Dow in 2024.

Since it only covers 30 companies, the Dow is not considered by Wall Street to be as robust of an index as the benchmark S&P 500 or the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite.

But the Dow occupies a unique cultural space in the history of Wall Street and American capitalism.

People remember when the Dow crossed 1,000 for the first time ever, in 1972; when it surpassed 10,000 in 1999; and so on. The Dow’s ascent above 50,000 highlights the stock market’s continued gains over time.

Undated photos of Charles H. Dow and Edward T. Jones, who established the Dow Jones Industrial Average in 1896. Dow and Jones were also founders of Dow Jones and Company, which first published the Wall Street Journal in 1889.
Undated photos of Charles H. Dow and Edward T. Jones, who established the Dow Jones Industrial Average in 1896. Dow and Jones were also founders of Dow Jones and Company, which first published the Wall Street Journal in 1889.
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Stock workers on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange in the early 1900s.
Stock workers on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange in the early 1900s.
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Three men write down information from a bulletin board number inside the New York Stock Exchange, ca. 1905, in New York City.
Three men write down information from a bulletin board number inside the New York Stock Exchange, ca. 1905, in New York City.
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Looking south down Broad St., in the heart of the Financial District, with the New York Stock Exchange at the right, on January 16, 1924.
Looking south down Broad St., in the heart of the Financial District, with the New York Stock Exchange at the right, on January 16, 1924.
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People gather on the Subtreasury building steps across from the New York Stock Exchange in New York on "Black Thursday," Oct. 24, 1929. Thousands of investors lost their savings in the stock market crash of Oct. 29, 1929, after a five-day frenzy of heavy trading. Too much speculation with borrowed money had inflated market values unrealistically, and the market experienced a brutal sell-off. The Great Depression followed thereafter.
People gather on the Subtreasury building steps across from the New York Stock Exchange in New York on "Black Thursday," Oct. 24, 1929. Thousands of investors lost their savings in the stock market crash of Oct. 29, 1929, after a five-day frenzy of heavy trading. Too much speculation with borrowed money had inflated market values unrealistically, and the market experienced a brutal sell-off. The Great Depression followed thereafter.
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The trading floor of the New York Stock Exchange, ca. 1930.
The trading floor of the New York Stock Exchange, ca. 1930.
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The complicated machinery of the New York Stock Exchange: In a room on the fifth floor of the exchange on December 21, 1936, these 150 telephone operators kept their eyes glued on a quotation board and constantly relayed up-to-the-minute prices of stocks to member firms of the NYSE. They notified ‘quotation boys' on the floor of fluctuations.
The complicated machinery of the New York Stock Exchange: In a room on the fifth floor of the exchange on December 21, 1936, these 150 telephone operators kept their eyes glued on a quotation board and constantly relayed up-to-the-minute prices of stocks to member firms of the NYSE. They notified ‘quotation boys' on the floor of fluctuations.
Bettmann Archive/Getty Images
This was the scene on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange on April 7, 1939, as the market closed an active session after the Good Friday holiday. Weary clerks produced this shower of paper at the closing gong.
This was the scene on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange on April 7, 1939, as the market closed an active session after the Good Friday holiday. Weary clerks produced this shower of paper at the closing gong.
AP
A broker at the stock exchange indicates her buying and selling prices in the 1950s.
A broker at the stock exchange indicates her buying and selling prices in the 1950s.
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Caught up in the swirl of heavy trading at the New York Stock Exchange on November 21, 1967, a member watches the big board. The stock market staged a dramatic rebound following a November 20 decline brought on by the devaluation of the British pound.
Caught up in the swirl of heavy trading at the New York Stock Exchange on November 21, 1967, a member watches the big board. The stock market staged a dramatic rebound following a November 20 decline brought on by the devaluation of the British pound.
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A view of the New York Stock Exchange at 3:30 p.m.. ET on November 14, 1972, as the Dow Jones Industrial Average officially closed above the 1,000 mark for the first time. From a low of 991.12, the Dow rose to a high of 1,006.92 before closing at 1,003.16.
A view of the New York Stock Exchange at 3:30 p.m.. ET on November 14, 1972, as the Dow Jones Industrial Average officially closed above the 1,000 mark for the first time. From a low of 991.12, the Dow rose to a high of 1,006.92 before closing at 1,003.16.
Bettmann Archive/Getty Images
Traders on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange on June 2, 1981.
Traders on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange on June 2, 1981.
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A trader at the New York Stock Exchange reacts on October 19, 1987 as stocks are devastated during one of the most frantic days in the exchange's history. "Black Monday" remains the biggest single-day percentage drop for the Dow in history. The index plunged 22.61% in one day.
A trader at the New York Stock Exchange reacts on October 19, 1987 as stocks are devastated during one of the most frantic days in the exchange's history. "Black Monday" remains the biggest single-day percentage drop for the Dow in history. The index plunged 22.61% in one day.
Maria Bastone/AFP/Getty Images
Peter Kann, center, chairman and CEO of Dow Jones & Co. is joined by Richard Grasso, left, chairman and CEO of the New York Stock Exchange, and Jack Welch, chairman and CEO of General Electric., as Kann rings the NYSE opening bell on the morning of May 28, 1996. The event marked the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Dow Jones Industrial Average with GE being the only company remaining from the original Dow index. GE would eventually exit the Dow in 2018.
Peter Kann, center, chairman and CEO of Dow Jones & Co. is joined by Richard Grasso, left, chairman and CEO of the New York Stock Exchange, and Jack Welch, chairman and CEO of General Electric., as Kann rings the NYSE opening bell on the morning of May 28, 1996. The event marked the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Dow Jones Industrial Average with GE being the only company remaining from the original Dow index. GE would eventually exit the Dow in 2018.
Richard Drew/AP
Stock traders gather on the floor to cheer as the Dow crosses 10,000 points for the first time ever on March 29, 1999.
Stock traders gather on the floor to cheer as the Dow crosses 10,000 points for the first time ever on March 29, 1999.
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Traders move on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange near the closing bell on October 1, 2007. The Dow closed at a record high of 14,087.55.
Traders move on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange near the closing bell on October 1, 2007. The Dow closed at a record high of 14,087.55.
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A trader works on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange at the end of the trading day in on March 2, 2009. The Dow plunged across 2008 and the first half of 2009 as stocks suffered amid the great financial crisis and recession.
A trader works on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange at the end of the trading day in on March 2, 2009. The Dow plunged across 2008 and the first half of 2009 as stocks suffered amid the great financial crisis and recession.
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A trader on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange wears a hat embroidered with 15,000 at the end of the trading day on May 7, 2013. The Dow closed above 15,000 points for the first time ever, hitting 15,056.
A trader on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange wears a hat embroidered with 15,000 at the end of the trading day on May 7, 2013. The Dow closed above 15,000 points for the first time ever, hitting 15,056.
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A trader works on the floor of the NYSE as the Dow closes above the 20,000 mark for the first time ever on January 25, 2017. Solid earnings from major companies, including Boeing, led the rally.
A trader works on the floor of the NYSE as the Dow closes above the 20,000 mark for the first time ever on January 25, 2017. Solid earnings from major companies, including Boeing, led the rally.
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The statue of the "Fearless Girl" casts a shadow in front of the New York Stock Exchange on a rainy day on Wall Street in New York City on May 23, 2019.
The statue of the "Fearless Girl" casts a shadow in front of the New York Stock Exchange on a rainy day on Wall Street in New York City on May 23, 2019.
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A trader works on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange on March 16, 2020. Stocks plunged that spring as the Covid-19 pandemic upended the global economy. Stocks rebounded later that year as progress on vaccines and the US presidential election brought some clarity to markets.
A trader works on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange on March 16, 2020. Stocks plunged that spring as the Covid-19 pandemic upended the global economy. Stocks rebounded later that year as progress on vaccines and the US presidential election brought some clarity to markets.
Craig Ruttle/AP
A man sits on the Wall Street bull near the New York Stock Exchange on November 24, 2020. As investors' nerves about the US presidential election eased, the Dow crossed the 30,000 milestone for the first time.
A man sits on the Wall Street bull near the New York Stock Exchange on November 24, 2020. As investors' nerves about the US presidential election eased, the Dow crossed the 30,000 milestone for the first time.
Spencer Platt/Getty Images
A trader works on the floor at the New York Stock Exchange on May 19, 2022. Stocks tumbled across 2022 as persistently high inflation weighed on the economy and investor sentiment.
A trader works on the floor at the New York Stock Exchange on May 19, 2022. Stocks tumbled across 2022 as persistently high inflation weighed on the economy and investor sentiment.
Seth Wenig/AP
A person walks past a window at the New York Stock Exchange as the Dow Jones Industrial Average edges toward trading above 40,000 points on May 17, 2024.
A person walks past a window at the New York Stock Exchange as the Dow Jones Industrial Average edges toward trading above 40,000 points on May 17, 2024.
justin Lane/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock
A trader works at the New York Stock Exchange as news of the Federal Reserve's decision on interest rates is announced on December 18, 2024. The Fed delivered a rate cut but signaled it might be on hold at subsequent meetings. The Dow closed lower on the day by 1,123 points, or 2.58%.
A trader works at the New York Stock Exchange as news of the Federal Reserve's decision on interest rates is announced on December 18, 2024. The Fed delivered a rate cut but signaled it might be on hold at subsequent meetings. The Dow closed lower on the day by 1,123 points, or 2.58%.
Justin Lane/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock
A trader works on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange at the opening bell on April 7, 2025. Stocks tumbled in March and early April amid fears that a trade war induced by President Donald Trump's tariffs would spark a global economic slowdown.
A trader works on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange at the opening bell on April 7, 2025. Stocks tumbled in March and early April amid fears that a trade war induced by President Donald Trump's tariffs would spark a global economic slowdown.
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The New York Stock Exchange on April 9, 2025. Stocks soared and the Dow had its best day in five years after President Donald Trump said he would pause some tariffs on dozens of countries, signaling a tentative reprieve in trade hostilities that wiped out trillions from global markets and ignited fears of a recession.
The New York Stock Exchange on April 9, 2025. Stocks soared and the Dow had its best day in five years after President Donald Trump said he would pause some tariffs on dozens of countries, signaling a tentative reprieve in trade hostilities that wiped out trillions from global markets and ignited fears of a recession.
Michael Nagle/Bloomberg/Getty Images
Traders work on the floor at the New York Stock Exchange on January 6, 2026. Wall Street kicked off 2026 on a high note, with the Dow crossing 49,000 points and hitting record highs in the first full week of trading.
Traders work on the floor at the New York Stock Exchange on January 6, 2026. Wall Street kicked off 2026 on a high note, with the Dow crossing 49,000 points and hitting record highs in the first full week of trading.
Seth Wenig/AP