Which day is traditionally identified as the start of the 1929 Wall Street Crash?

Black Thursday is traditionally identified as the start of the 1929 Wall Street Crash.

Black Thursday was October 24, 1929, when heavy selling caused a dramatic fall in share prices on the New York Stock Exchange. The market recovered much of its early loss after major bankers intervened, but the temporary rescue did not restore lasting confidence.

Selling returned the following week. Black Monday occurred on October 28, followed by Black Tuesday on October 29, when approximately 16 million shares changed hands. The crash destroyed enormous paper wealth and contributed to a broader collapse in economic activity.

The crash did not single-handedly cause the Great Depression. Other factors included bank failures, falling demand, debt problems, deflation and policy mistakes. Another common misunderstanding is that the entire collapse happened on one day; in reality, the market decline unfolded over several severe sessions and continued into the early 1930s.