Besides being one of the first capitals of the United States, New York City has one of the oldest and richest histories in the country. From the time of the Dutch settlers to the Revolutionary War, you can find true pieces of history through the five boroughs. New York's assiduous collection of history districts and protected landmarks has ensured the continuance of the city's rich cultural history, and here's where you find the best New York has to offer.
American Museum of Natural History(212) 769-5100
Central Park West at 79th Street,
New York, NY, 10024
This world-famous museum is comprised of several different Halls, each dedicated to a particular theme. The museum's exhibition-halls house a stunning array of artifacts and specimens from all corner
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Brooklyn Botanic Garden(718) 623-7200
1000 Washington Ave.,
Brooklyn, NY, 11225
Growing from its humble beginnings as an ash dump in the late 1800s, the Brooklyn Botanic Garden has come to represent today the very best in urban gardening and horticultural display.
Brooklyn BridgeManhattan Side: City Hall
Brooklyn Side: The Anchorage,
New York, NY
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 harbor, or the skyline of lower Manhattan. Midway across the bridge, you'll find historic markers and detailed information about the bridge as well as some great photo opportunities.
Central Park(212) 310-6600
59th to 110th Streets,
New York, NY
New York's "flagship" park of 843 acres, 26,000 trees, and almost 9,000 benches has had a rather checkered history. Planning began around 1868, when city commissioners chose the "Greensward Plan" developed by Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux. In the ensuing decades of building, the challenging terrain wasn't the only obstacle to overcome.
Chrysler Building(212) 715-0395
405 Lexington Avenue,
New York, NY, 10017
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 Ch
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Cloisters(212) 923-3700
W. 193rd Street at Washington Ave.,
New York, NY, 10040
This unique home for the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s vast medieval holdings, built in the mid-1930s atop one of Washington Heights’ many hills, seems more a sanctuary on the mountaintop than a museum. For the Cloisters inde
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Ellis Island Museum(212) 363-3200
Ellis Island,
New York, NY
From 1892 to 1954, Ellis Island was the largest port of entry and inspection to the United States of America. Inspections of passengers arriving from around the globe after frequently arduous sea crossings took place here in the Registry Room (or Great Hall), where doctors inspected every immigrant for signs of illness. Ellis Island is a great place to explore American immigration history, and trace family roots, particularly at the American Immigrant Wall of Honor. Watch the award-winning documentary film Island of Hope, Island of Tears, and learn more about the Peopling of America.
Empire State Building(212) 736-3100
350 Fifth Avenue,
New York, NY, 10118
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 visitors, for the building captures the very essence of New York: huge, full of people, and breathtaking. Now in its 75th year, it remaining as spectacular and enchanting as ever.
Grand Central Terminal and Station(212) 340-2583
100 East 42nd Street,
New York, NY, 10017
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 massi
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Metropolitan Museum of Art (MET)(212) 535-7710
1000 Fifth Avenue,
New York, NY, 10028
The Metropolitan Museum is extraordinary in scope and size, and a visitor to this world-famous museum should plan on staying the entire day. In formation since 1870, the Metropolitan Museum's collection
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New York Public Library(212) 930-0571
Fifth Avenue between 40th and 42nd Streets,
New York, NY
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
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Rockefeller Center600 5th Ave,
New York, NY, 10111
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.
Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum(212) 423-3500
1071 Fifth Avenue,
New York, NY, 10128
The Guggenheim holds a unique place in the history of New York City's museums. Established some sixty years ago by philanthropist Solomon R. Guggenheim and artist-advisor Hilla Rebay, it first assumed tempo
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South Street Seaport Museum(212) 748-8600
17 Fulton Street,
New York, NY, 10038
Founded in 1967, the mission of the South Street Seaport Museum is to trace the history of the Port of New York, and its commercial and cultural impact on the city, the state, and the nation. The museum fulfills its mission through its galleries and exhibits, living history programs, programs and events, educational programs for children and adults, and the largest privately owned collection of historic vessels (in tonnage) in the United States.
St. Patrick's Cathedral(212) 753-2261
460 Madison Ave,
New York, NY, 10022
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.
Statue of Liberty(877) LADY-TIX
Liberty Island,
New York, NY
Few brief ferry trips can be more exciting; departing from Battery Park at the southern tip of Manhattan, both the spectacular New York skyline and the magnificent Statue of Liberty loom large in the distance. A potent symbol of freedom and democracy, the Statue was a gift from the French people to the people of the United States, and was dedicated in 1886.
Times Square42nd Street at Broadway,
New York, NY, 10036
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 So
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Trinity Church(212) 602-0800
Broadway at Wall Street,
New York, NY, 10005
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 W
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United Nations(212) 963-TOUR
42nd Street at First Avenue,
New York, NY, 10017
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, much behind-the-scenes diplomacy occurs every day among delegates from the nearly 190 member states as well as between the numerous international organizations and international civil servants of the UN.
World Trade Center — Ground ZeroVesey-Liberty-Church-West Streets,
New York, NY, 10038
September 11, 2001, is a day that remains indelibly etched in the hearts and minds of New Yorkers, Americans, and countless millions of people around the world. Thousands of tourists stream into lower Manhattan daily to observe the work at the site of the former World Trade Center, also referred to as Ground Zero.
