Ellis Island
Ellis Island is located in Upper New York Bay, east of Liberty State Park and north of Liberty Island. From 1892 to 1954, nearly 12 million immigrants arriving at the Port of New York and New Jersey were processed there under federal law. Originally known as one of three “Oyster Islands”, Ellis Island originally consisted of large tidal flats with vast oyster beds, which were a major source of food for New York’s indigenous Lenape tribe. In the late 19th century, the federal government started expanding the island through land reclamation to house its immigration station, with expansions ongoing until 1934.The fill possibly originated from ship ballast and material excavated during the construction of the first line of the New York City Subway. It might also have been sourced from the Lehigh Valley Railroad and the Central Railroad of New Jersey railyards. This process ultimately destroyed the oyster beds, submerged one of the Oyster Islands, and significantly altered the shoreline of the remaining islands.These days, the island is accessible to the public only by ferry. Visitors can explore the Ellis Island National Museum of Immigration, the main building on the northern half of the island. The building once processed millions of immigrants seeking a new life and now, preserves their stories.On the southern half of the island, sits the former Ellis Island Immigrant Hospital, where immigrants who were ill and immigrants who had conditions that prohibited them from entering the United States were treated. During its years of operation from 1902 to 1951, the hospital treated 275,000 patients. Visitors to the island can book a hard hat tour of the unrestored hospital buildings, conducted by the non-profit group Save Ellis Island.The island has been honored with the Ellis Island Medal of Honor and has received multiple landmark designations at the federal, state, and municipal levels.military for almost 80 years.
Statue of Liberty
The Statue of Liberty is a neoclassical sculpture made of copper and steel which stands on Liberty Island in New York Harbor.Designed by Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi, the statue reaches a height of 305 feet (93 meters) from base to torch tip. The statue is of Libertas, the Roman goddess of liberty. She holds a torch above her head and carries a tablet inscribed with the date of the American Declaration of Independence, broken chains lie at her feet, representing freedom from oppression.French abolitionist and political thinker, Édouard René de Laboulaye, came up with the idea of honoring the United States’ achievements in freedom and democracy, in particular with regard to the abolition of slavery and the union’s victory in the civil war. This idea was not intended as a proposal, but when sculptor, Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi heard it in an after dinner conversation, he was inspired. The project was delayed by the Franco-Prussian War, in which Bartholdi served as a major of militia. Bartholdi chose Liberty Island as the location of the statue because vessels arriving in New York had to sail past it and it was land owned by the US government. An American icon, the Statue of Liberty serves as a symbol of American values and has welcomed millions of immigrants and visitors over the years.
Brooklyn Bridge
The Brooklyn Bridge is a National Historic Landmark suspension bridge that spans the East River, connecting Manhattan and Brooklyn. Completed in 1883, the bridge was designed by German immigrant, John Augustus Roebling.Construction began in 1870, and the bridge opened to the public on May 24, 1883. At the time, it was the longest suspension bridge in the world.The bridge is 6,000 feet long and 270 feet tall, with a main span of 1,595.5 feet. It has stone arches, four main cables, and a deck that supports both cars and pedestrians.Construction was plagued with tragedy, with at least 20 workers killed and many more suffering decompression sickness, known as “the bends”. To construct foundations for the bridge towers, engineers sank a pair of watertight wood-and-steel chambers, called caissons, face down into the East River. Working with shovels and even dynamite to excavate the riverbed, so-called “sandhogs” worked in stifling heat and at more than double the normal atmospheric pressure due to the compressed air pumped in to keep water out and to allow workers to breathe.The deeper the sandhogs burrowed, the more they began to experience strange muscular paralysis, slurred speech, vomiting, chills and excruciatingly sharp joint pains and stomach cramps upon ascending to the surface. Unbeknownst to the workers, the symptoms of this “caisson disease,” also known as “the bends,” were due to bubbling nitrogen in their bloodstream caused by rapid decreases in atmospheric pressure when resurfacing too quickly.John Roebling himself became ill with “the bends” early on in the construction. The project’s completion and engineering leadership was taken over by his wife, Emily Roebling. She was educated in science and academics and was coached by John when he became ill. She is the true hero of the Brooklyn Bridge project.Upon its completion, the public was hesitant to use the bridge. As a demonstration of strength, P.T. Barnum, of circus fame, offered up 21 elephants and 17 camels to march across it to prove its tolerance.The bridge is still standing today and it is open to cars, bikes, and pedestrians! It’s a popular walkway for commuters, locals and tourists, offering excellent views of the skyline & New York Harbor.
One World Trade Center
One World Trade Center, also known as the Freedom Tower, stands at a height of 1,776 feet (541 meters), making it the tallest building in the Western Hemisphere. Designed by architect David Childs, its sleek, glass-clad form soars into the sky, a beacon of progress and renewal.The architectural features include a tapered top and a spire that signifies its height and prominence.Architecturally impressive and deeply meaningful, One World Trade Center isn't just a skyscraper; it's a symbol of resilience in the face of adversity. Built on the site of the original World Trade Center, which was destroyed in the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, the tower stands as a tribute to those who lost their lives and a testament to the city's unwavering spirit.
Battery Park
Battery Park, located at the southern tip of Manhattan, has historical significance dating back to New Amsterdam. Originally a fortification to defend against the British, it has transformed into a popular green space. The park features lush lawns, trees, and flower beds. Castle Clinton, a circular sandstone fort within the park, was once a defensive structure and immigration processing center, now designated as a National Monument. Much of the land that the park sits on was filled in on top of dilapidated piers in the 1970s. The southern end of the site was constructed on landfill from the digging of the foundations for the World Trade Center and the northern portion was filled in with materials from other public works projects. From the park, visitors can view landmarks such as the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. Additionally, Battery Park is a boarding locale for the tour boat that can actually take you onto Ellis Island and Liberty Island. Battery Park serves as a testament to New York City's resilience and vitality.
Brooklyn Bridge Park
From the water, visitors can observe the Brooklyn Bridge Park’s lawns and promenades along the waterfront, catering to activities such as picnics, playground visits, and cycling. The land that is now the park was once a ferry landing in the 1600s. On August 29, 1776, during the American Revolutionary War, it played a vital strategic role for George Washington and the Continental Army in the Battle of Long Island. In the dead of night, Washington's troops eluded the rapidly advancing British Army by crossing the East River to Manhattan. After the Brooklyn and Manhattan bridges were built ferry traffic was disrupted and experienced a sharp drop off. Current notable attractions include Pier 1's repurposed warehouses, now housing gardens and recreational areas, and Jane's Carousel, a restored historic ride. Pier 6 offers sports fields, picnic areas, and a playground with water features. The park hosts various events throughout the year, including outdoor movies, concerts, art exhibitions, and food festivals.
Central Railroad of New Jersey Terminal
From the water, the Central Railroad Terminal presents notable Beaux-Arts architecture, characterized by intricate details and columns. The terminal includes a spacious train shed with a high roof and arched windows. The intermodal facility contains more than a dozen platforms and several ferry slips.The terminal was built in 1889, replacing an earlier one that had been in use since 1864. It operated until April 30, 1967. It is estimated that around 10.5 million entered the country through the station.Nowadays, the Terminal is used for daily ferries to the Statue of Liberty National Monument, Ellis Island, and Liberty Island.
Empire State Building
The Empire State Building, located in Midtown South, Manhattan, is a renowned symbol of New York City.Standing at a height of 1,454 feet (443 meters), it was the world's tallest building until the first tower of the World Trade Center was topped out in 1970. After the attack on 9/11/2001, the Empire State Building was New York City's tallest building until it was surpassed in 2012 by One World Trade Center. As of 2022, the building is the seventh-tallest building in New York City, the ninth-tallest completed skyscraper in the United States, and the 54th-tallest in the world.It features an Art Deco facade and a distinctive silhouette with an iconic spire. The spire was originally intended to serve as a mooring mast for zeppelins and other airships, although the plan was abandoned after high winds made that impossible.The site for the building was originally the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel, which closed in 1929. Shortly after the hotel closed, the site was sold to a group of wealthy investors known as Empire State Inc. Construction started on March 17, 1930, and the building opened thirteen and a half months afterward on May 1, 1931.The building is illuminated at night, creating a notable spectacle in the city skyline. Since October 12, 1977, the spire has been lit in colors chosen to match seasonal events and holidays.Around four million tourists from around the world annually visit the building's 86th- and 102nd-floor observatories. The Empire State remains to this day an iconic feature of the city and the country at large.
Governors Island
Governors Island, situated in New York Harbor is a site of rich history and lush parks.The island's use as a military installation dates to 1776, during the American Revolutionary War, when Continental Army troops raised defensive works on the island. From 1783 to 1966, the island was a United States Army post, serving mainly as a training ground for troops, though it also served as a strategic defense point during wartime. The island then served as a major United States Coast Guard installation until 1996. Finally, the island opened for public use in 2005.The island can only be accessed by ferries from Brooklyn and Manhattan, and there are no full-time residents as of 2022. It was accessible to the public only during the summer until 2021, when the island started operating year-round.Notable structures on the island include Fort Jay, constructed in the late 18th century, served as a strategic defense outpost and Castle Williams, built in the early 19th century, another historic fortress on the island.The island also hosts the New York Harbor School, a public highschool with a maritime-focused curriculum, where several Classic Harbor Line crew members received their formative maritime education.
Holland Tunnel
While the Holland Tunnel itself isn’t visible from the water, the ventilation towers loom over the waterfront, providing a reminder of the significance of the tunnel in the landscape and functionality of the city.Until the first decade of the 20th century, passage across the lower Hudson River was possible only by ferry. Later, the first tunnels created under the Hudson were reserved for railway use. While these rail tunnels proved the viability of an underwater transport passage, the need for vehicular traffic across the Hudson grew. Construction of the Holland Tunnel started in 1920, and it opened in 1927. At the time of its opening, it was the longest continuous underwater tunnel for vehicular traffic in the world.The Holland Tunnel was the world's first mechanically ventilated tunnel. The ventilation towers are designed in the Art Deco style with buff brick facades with steel and reinforced-concrete frames. The four ventilation towers contain a combined 84 fans which blow fresh air into ducts and provide air intake to the tunnel via openings at the tubes' curbside.In front of the ventilation tower on Spring Street, a large jagged structure looms. The Salt Shed contains up to 5,000 tons of salt, used to salt the streets during snow storms. The building was designed to look like a grain of salt and features a green roof that harvests rainwater, which is stored in a cistern and used for washing garbage trucks and a design that the building warmer in winter and cooler in summer.The Holland Tunnel facilitates the movement of people and goods between the two New York and New Jersey, enhancing transportation efficiency.
Intrepid Museum
The Intrepid Museum is a retired aircraft which currently operates as a museum dedicated to naval aviation.The USS Intrepid served as an aircraft carrier in World War II and the Vietnam War. The museum was proposed in the late 1970s as a way to preserve the Intrepid, and it opened on August 3, 1982.The Intrepid is the second aircraft carrier in the U.S. to be converted into a museum, after the USS Yorktown.The museum features a collection of historic aircraft, including fighter jets, helicopters, and reconnaissance planes, displayed on the ship's flight deck.Interactive exhibits and multimedia displays below deck provide insight into the ship's history and its role in global events.Other maritime artifacts, such as the submarine USS Growler and the destroyer USS Edson, are also part of the museum's exhibits.The museum serves as a space for community and national events, from black-tie galas to bar mitzvahs, photo shoots and runway shows.
Javits center
The Jacob K. Javits Convention Center is located on Manhattan's West Side along the Hudson River.From the water, this iconic venue presents itself as a modern architectural marvel, with its sleek glass facade reflecting the shimmering waters of the river.The space frame structure was constructed from 1979 to 1986 and was named to honor Jacob Javits, the United States Senator for New York at the time.Today, the center hosts a variety of events, conferences, and exhibitions. Its versatile spaces accommodate gatherings of all sizes and purposes, from boat shows to trade expos.The space has been expanded many times, as recently as 2021. Its continuous upgrades and expansions reflect its importance as a vital infrastructure for the city's business and tourism sectors.
Little Island
Little Island is a public park located on concrete pilings in the Hudson River, off Manhattan's West Side. It is supported by 132 pot-shaped structures suspended above the water. The heights of the pots were intended to give the appearance of a floating leaf or a wave.The park includes an amphitheater for live performances and cultural events. Wooden walkways and suspension bridges connect different areas of the park.The park opened on May 21, 2021 and can fit 1,000 people simultaneously. As of 2023, the park is open from 6am to 1am daily.
South Street Seaport
The South Street Seaport is located in Lower Manhattan and holds significant maritime history. The district features some of the oldest buildings in Lower Manhattan, and includes the largest concentration of restored early 19th-century commercial buildings in the city. In addition, pier 17 serves as a hub for shops, restaurants, and entertainment venues.The first pier in the area appeared in 1625, when the Dutch West India Company founded an outpost there.At its peak, the port hosted many commercial enterprises, institutions, ship-chandlers, workshops, boarding houses, saloons, and brothels.Designated by Congress in 1998 as one of several museums which together make up "America's National Maritime Museum", South Street Seaport Museum sits in a 12 square-block historic district that is the site of the original port of New York City. The Museum has over 30,000 square feet (2,800 m2) of exhibition space and educational facilities. It houses exhibition galleries, a working 19th-century print shop, an archeology museum, a maritime library, a craft center, a marine life conservation lab, and the largest privately owned fleet of historic ships in the country.
Staten Island Ferry Whitehall Terminal
The Whitehall Terminal serves as the gateway to the Staten Island Ferry, which has been operating for over a century, providing transportation between Manhattan and Staten Island.Ferry lines from Manhattan to Staten Island began operating under the municipal authority of the Department of Docks and Ferries on October 25, 1905, only seven years after the City of Greater New York was established.It was originally designed nearly identically to the Battery Maritime Building; a connector between the two terminals was planned but never built.The current terminal, completed in 2005 and is four stories high. It contains three ferry slips, where ferries dock along the terminal's waterfront promenade, preparing for their journeys across the harbor. The terminal building's facade is made of corrugated stainless-steel panels and glass.The terminal is open 24 hours a day and handles around 70,000 ferry passengers daily.
Water's Soul
Water's Soul is a sculpture along the Hudson River Waterfront Walkway in the Newport section of Jersey City. It depicts a woman with closed eyes holding a finger to her lips. The work was conceived by Jaume Plensa and commissioned by LeFrak and Simon Property Group. Made of polyester resin, fiberglass, and marble dust, the work is white and stands 80 feet (24 m) tall. It faces the Hudson River and the New York City skyline from the New Jersey waterfront. It was created at Plensa's Barcelona studio and shipped in 23 containers, each 40 feet (12 m) feet long, to the site.Of the work, Plensa stated, "It is my wish for Water’s Soul to become an icon for Newport and a landmark that visually connects it with New York City across the Hudson River. Just as Water’s Soul acts to unite the city of Jersey City and New York City, we are reminded that water is the great public space that unites and embraces communities as well as people around the world." "The water, when it moves, makes a special sound, very special," Plensa said in an interview, suggesting the sculpture's message is "to keep silent...to listen to the profound noise of the water talking to us."
Liberty State Park
Liberty State Park is a park in New Jersey situated on landfilled tidal flats. In the latter half of the 19th century, it became a major shipping, manufacturing, and transportation hub within the Port of New York and New Jersey, leading to the construction of Communipaw Terminal.Today, Liberty State Park features lawns, trees, and flower gardens along the waterfront. The park also is the home of several landmarks and attractions. The Central Railroad of New Jersey Terminal, with Beaux-Arts architecture, is a historic landmark within the park. The Liberation Monument is a towering sculpture symbolizing freedom and resilience.In addition, the Liberty Science Center offers interactive exhibits and learning experiences for those who visit the park.
Manhattan Bridge
The Manhattan Bridge, completed in 1909, is the city’s newest suspension bridge, spanning the East River and connecting Manhattan and Brooklyn.The bridge took 8 years to complete and features a lattice of steel cables supporting its roadway, with Art Deco details on its towers. It is the first bridge to use a Warren Truss (using equilateral triangles to spread out the weight on the bridge) in its design. Featuring four vehicle lanes on the upper level, three lower level vehicle lanes, and four rapid transit/subway tracks, the bridge is designed with assisting traffic flow in mind.The Manhattan bridge serves as a significant transportation link between the two boroughs and has been featured in various forms of media.
Manhattan Cruise Terminal
Formerly known as the New York Passenger Ship Terminal or Port Authority Passenger Ship Terminal, the Manhattan Cruise Terminal serves as a departure point for thousands of cruise passengers annually.Located on the west side of Manhattan, it covers piers 88-90. The terminal was built to accommodate bigger ships that couldn’t use Chelsea Piers. The original development plan involved lengthening several existing 800-foot piers. However, the US Army Corps of Engineers, which controlled the waterfront dimension, would not permit extending the pierhead line further into the river. So, the city decided to extend the pier by excavating land. While the city had previously removed only landfill for the Chelsea Piers, the Passenger Terminal required the removal of actual Manhattan schist.Historic ocean liners and modern cruise ships alike moor at the terminal’s expansive docking facilities, reminding those who pass of the city's maritime history and global connectivity.
