The Battery

Take a stroll toward the southern end of Manhattan and soon you will find a place where the pavement and skyscrapers end and history begins. Facing New York Harbor, sits a 25 acre park abounding with history, both above ground and below. Battery Park, as well as “the Battery” area in which it resides, was named for the artillery batteries positioned there in the 17th century to protect the city’s early settlers.

Although the area has experienced tremendous growth, one of the most prominent landmarks in the region, Castle Clinton, remains. The rich history of Castle Clinton began in 1812 when it was first built as a fort. After the war it was used for several purposes, including a promenade, a famous theatrical venue, housing for the New York Aquarium, as well as the world’s first immigration depot in 1855.

Battery Park is also home to ten memorials and monuments. One of which is the East Coast Memorial, erected to honor the 4,609 servicemen who lost their lives in the Battle of the Atlantic during World War II. Another is the famous sculpture, “The Sphere”, a symbol of World Peace, which originally sat at the World Trade Center. Below ground is even more history, including New York’s transportation infrastructure dating back to 1905, as well as a 200-year-old unearthed stone wall.

Battery Park is a park unlike any other and well worth the visit. Next time you are in Manhattan, step off the pavement and enjoy a walk through history.