The Dow Jones Industrial Average recovered its pre-1929 peak by 1954.
The Dow reached a major high in September 1929 before the Wall Street Crash and the prolonged bear market that followed. Although share prices began recovering during the 1930s, the rebound was interrupted by the economic weakness of the Great Depression and the market disruption surrounding World War II.
The index finally exceeded its 1929 peak in November 1954, about 25 years after the crash. This long recovery period is a useful reminder that recovering from a market collapse is different from merely reaching a short-term low. A common mistake is to say the recovery happened in 1933, when the Dow began a strong rebound; it did not regain the earlier peak until 1954.