New York City is a culturally vibrant metropolis filled with rich histories. To gain more insight into New York’s past or simply add some history into your NYC itinerary, take a look at our list of historic places in NYC.
Trinity Church NYC stands on the site of an older structure destroyed during the Great Fire of 1776 (George Washington and Alexander Hamilton both regularly attended services here), which now faces Wall Street.
The Battery
The Battery is located on Manhattan Island’s southernmost tip, making it an historical place in New York City. Once home to Lenape and Munsee Native Americans as well as Florentine explorer Giovanni da Verrazzano of Florentine fame. Later the Dutch West India Company settled New Amsterdam here during 17th century; over time piers, wharves, and slips emerged along its coastline for trading purposes and war preparations.
Today, The Battery is a stunning park full of historic monuments and memorials that honor its past. These include a bronze sculpture of Giovanni da Verrazzano, an inscription commemorating Fort George (later Castle Clinton) that was destroyed in 1815, Fritz Koenig’s Sphere dedicated to hope and world peace as well as Frederick William Vanderbilt’s United States Coast Guard Memorial – located here alongside Wall Street Slave Market and Downing’s Oyster House–an early 1800s restaurant run by black abolitionist–owned by black abolitionist–all located here as well.
Ellis Island
Ellis Island provides an intimate glimpse of America’s immigration history. In the 1890s and 1900s alone, over 12 million immigrants entered through this iconic port of entry hoping to start new lives and realize the American dream; unfortunately not all were accepted.
Ellis Island Immigration Museum tells their stories, including those who made an impactful contribution to America.
The American Family Immigration History Center allows visitors to search immigrant arrival records and gain insight into what their ancestors experienced upon arriving in America. Once just a tiny spit of sand, this 27.5-acre island has since seen vast expansion through land reclamation and landfilling projects as part of Liberty State Park.
Federal Hall
Federal Hall may not seem like an eye-catching landmark compared to its city skyscraper counterparts, but few places can match its importance for American history. Here was where George Washington took his oath of office as President, hosting his inaugural Congress, Supreme Court and Executive Branch offices all at the same time.
This neoclassical building was completed between 1834 and 1842 to replace New York’s previous City Hall, known as “Old City Hall”. Prior to that it served as the site of Stamp Act Congress meetings that convened against taxation without representation in October 1765; these protests ultimately led to Revolutionary War rumblings; furthermore it housed NY Society Library which had its collection raided during this conflict before being rebuilt post Revolution in 1795.
Their architects modeled it on the Parthenon to establish New York as a premier port; its Grand Rotunda recalls Rome’s Pantheon for republicanism. Today, this museum and memorial honoring America’s founding President serves as both a museum and memorial site.
The Statue of Liberty
The Statue of Liberty stands as an iconic landmark in New York City and attracts millions of tourists each year.
Frederic-Auguste Bartholdi of France designed and completed this monument in 1886. Following disassembly and shipment to Bedloe’s Island (later Liberty Island), where it was reassembled with great fanfare; Emma Lazarus dedicated a sonnet from her book to American citizens on its pedestal in 1903.
As the home of an esteemed photographer who documented New York City, this National Historic Landmark provides an intimate look into immigrant and working class families at the turn of the 20th century. Additionally, it serves as a cultural center by hosting exhibitions and educational programs.
