Times Square

From the hustle of the Port Authority Bus Terminal to the bustle of Seventh Avenue and 42nd Street, much of New York’s dazzling vibrancy and energy emanates from this area stretching from Times Square to Central Park South. Packed with theaters, tourist attractions and tall offic...

African Burial Ground National Monument

The African Burial Ground National Monument is located at the corner of Duane and Elk Streets in Lower Manhattan, adjacent to the Ted Weiss Federal Building at 290 Broadway. In 1991, the remains of more than four hundred 17th and 18th century Africans were discovered during pre-c...

Grant's Tomb (General Grant National Memorial)

One of the lesser-visited but nevertheless fascinating of the National Parks sites in New York City is General Grant's tomb. Exhibits about the Civil War, his life in New York and other displays on American history make for a great visit.

Washington Memorial Arch

Erected in 1892, the marble Washington Memorial Arch designed by Stanford White. By the year 2000, air pollution had severely eroded parts of the statue of Washington on the arch to the extent that it appeared he had smallpox. An extensive renovation was undertaken, and the arch ...

Grace Church

The first Grace Church was established in 1809 and until 1845 members worshipped at the corner of Broadway and Rector Streets. It quickly became a "fashionable" church, and its pews were much in demand. By the time of the rectorate of Thomas House Taylor (1834-1867), ho...

Grand Central Terminal and Station

New York's extraordinary railroad station, designed in Beaux-Arts style by Reed & Stem and Warren & Wetmore, was constructed from 1903 to 1913, improving on the earlier Grand Central Depot (a massive glass-and-iron train shed, opened 1871). It is perhaps best approached f...

New York Public Library

The majestic Beaux-Arts building, flanked by the two famous marble lions, Patience and Fortitude, has been the heart and soul of the New York library system for nearly a century. Begun in 1902, the library at the time became the largest marble structure ever built in the United S...

St. Patrick's Cathedral

St. Patrick's Cathedral is the seat of the Archbishop of New York, Edward M. Egan. It is the largest decorated gothic-style Catholic Cathedral in the United States and has been recognized throughout its history as a center of Catholic life in this country. About The Church The Ca...

Rockefeller Center

In the depths of the Great Depression, Rockefeller Center - then and now the largest private building enterprise ever undertaken in the United States - began rising over midtown Manhattan. Between 1931 and 1939, this massive project provided employment to almost 4,000 New Yorkers...

Federal Hall

Few places have played a more important role in American history than Federal Hall. After construction in 1700, it served as the seat of New York’s colonial government; the Stamp Act Congress protesting "taxation without representation" was held here; the First Continen...

Brookfield Place

Brookfield Place, formally known as the World Financial Center, is a complex of office towers, high-end retail, and restaurants located opposite One World Trade Center. The Winter Garden, a huge and beautiful atrium stand as the center piece, with large glass windows facing West,...

Trinity Church

The first parish and one of the oldest churches in the City of New York, Trinity Church dates back to before the American Revolutionary War. In 1697, Trinity received its charter and land grant from the English King William III; the annual rent set by the Crown was "one pepp...

Staten Island Ferry

New York’s waterways are once again thriving, and aside from the profusion of new ferry services, this old reliable standby still plies the water between Staten Island and Manhattan around the clock every day of the year. Best of all, it has been free of charge since 1997. Take a...

Fort Wadsworth

Fort Wadsworth located on the northeastern tip of Staten Island at end of Bay Street, adjacent to the Verrazano Bridge. Easily accessible by either bus or taxi, prepare to take a journey through time as you bear witness to one of America’s oldest and most historic military instal...

General Post Office / Moynihan Station

One of New York's architectural treasures, the 1913 McKim, Mead & White General Post Office (officially the James A. Farley Post Office), awaits transformation into the future Pennsylvania Station, to be named in honor of the former New York senator who championed the project...

Empire State Building

The legendary building soaring more than 100 stories over Manhattan's skyline made famous by the movie King Kong, the Empire State Building was for 40 years the world's tallest building. Its gorgeous Art Deco details and beautiful marble lobby make it the perfect stop for visitor...

City Hall

Completed in 1812, New York’s third City Hall building is surrounded by a restored park occupying a unique place in American history. The spacious and elegant interior of City Hall has seen many changes throughout the ensuing 200 years, particularly where office space was created...

Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine

The world's largest Gothic cathedral, St. John the Divine has been an extraordinary presence in New York since the first cornerstone was laid in 1892. Construction foundered after World War II, and not until the leadership of the Very Rev. James Parks Morton did building continue...

New York Stock Exchange

The venerable and bustling madhouse at the center of global finance, the New York Stock Exchange, is no longer open to the public.

1 World Trade Center / Freedom Tower

The new 1 World Trade Center, formerly known as the Freedom Tower, serves as the main building of the World Trade Center. The nearby 9/11 Memorial commemorates those who fell during the attacks of September 11th, 2001, with two deep pools where the footprints of the Twin Towers u...

South Street Seaport

For over 300 years, the seaport has been vital to New York's success as a port city. The South Street area in particular, however, fell into decline after the US Civil War when the Hudson River eclipsed the East River in accommodating large ships. Restoration of the area began in...

Brooklyn Bridge

The world's first steel suspension bridge, built some 120 years ago, remains a fascinating must-do attraction for city residents and tourists alike. Few walks offer a more dramatic view of the skyline, of boats gliding across the East River, the Statue of Liberty in the distant h...

Cotton Club

Back when Harlem was the capital of New York nightlife, when clubs were rigidly segregated and the performers were black and the audience white, the Cotton Club, run by notorious gangsters, was the pinnacle of the jazz scene. The joint was already jumping with the Ellington Band,...

Eldridge Street Synagogue

The Museum at Eldridge Street is preserving the Eldridge Street Synagogue as a site for historical reflection, aesthetic inspiration, and spiritual renewal. In this powerful and evocative setting, programs for adults, school children and families explore cultural continuity and c...

Brooklyn Public Library

The main branch of the Brooklyn Public Library and one of the largest library branches in the entire city, this massive library even has a restaurant on the third floor and is home to the world-renowned Brooklyn Collection of manuscripts, books, maps, and other historical documen...

United Nations

The United Nations officially came into existence on 24 October 1945, and some four years later the cornerstone was laid for the present UN Headquarters in New York City. While television has captured famous scenes of debate from both the General Assembly and Security Council, mu...

World Trade Center prior to 9/11

The World Trade Center was destroyed by a terrorist attack on September 11, 2001. We maintain this page as a testament to its place in New York City's history, and in memory of all those who suffered and who lost their lives. For information about Ground Zero, please click here a...

Macy's

After several failed retail ventures, Rowland Hussey Macy's determination and ingenuity paid off at the age of thirty-six with the launch of R.H. Macy and Co. He adopted a red star as his symbol of success, dating back to his days as a sailor. First day sales totaled $11.06 but b...

Chrysler Building

After its completion in 1929, William van Alen’s 77-story Chrysler Building was the world’s tallest building at 925 feet for just a brief period. A proposed redesign of the Bank of Manhattan tower threatened the Chrysler Building by a mere two feet, so Walter P. Chrysler hastily ...

Irish Hunger Memorial

The Irish Hunger Memorial (or Irish Famine Memorial), the creation of artist Brian Tolle, landscape artist Gail Wittwer-Laird, and 1100 Architect, is devoted to raising public awareness of the events that led to the "Great Irish Famine and Migration" of 1845-1852. It se...

Bloomingdale's

Bloomingdale's began with a 19th century fad, the hoop skirt, and the extraordinary vision of two brothers:  Lyman and Joseph Bloomingdale. The first retail endeavor of the Bloomingdale's brothers was a Ladies' Notion Shop in New York.  In 1872, Bloomingdale's expanded and opened...

Castle Clinton National Monument

More than a dozen forts were built to defend New York Harbor at the time of the War of 1812. The Southwest Battery was constructed on the rocks off the tip of Manhattan Island between 1808 and 1811. Although fully armed and staffed, the fort never had occasion to fire upon an ene...

George Washington Bridge Bus Station

The George Washington Bridge Bus Station (GWBBS) located in the Washington Heights area of upper Manhattan, occupies a two-block site at 4211 Broadway between 178th and 179th Streets, and Fort Washington and Wadsworth Avenues. The bus station has three levels, the main concourse ...

Tweed Courthouse

The Old New York County Courthouse, better known as Tweed Courthouse, is architecturally one of New York’s greatest civic monuments. Tweed Courthouse was granted status as a New York City Landmark in 1984 and is listed on both the state and national registers of historic places. ...

NASDAQ

As the world's largest electronic stock market, Nasdaq is not limited to one central trading location. Rather, trading is executed through Nasdaq's sophisticated computer and telecommunications network, which transmits real-time quote and trade data to more than 1.3 million users...

Louis Armstrong House

Trumpeter Louis Armstrong was born and raised in New Orleans but he spent large portions of his later life in his Corona, Queens home, which has been turned into a museum. The museum offers tours throughout the week for the jazz fan interested in Armstrong’s life and how he lived...

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