The first thing you see when entering “The Battery” (formerly Battery Park) is the New Amsterdam monument. This area was originally called New Amsterdam when it was first settled by the Dutch in the 1600’s. This monument was put here in 1926 to mark the 300th anniversary of the Dutch settlement.

Now we are getting into the park. At the far end is Castle Clinton.

There are various people in the park with ice chests selling water for a dollar. Having paid $2-5 for water on the streets of New York, I grab every dollar water I see.

Castle Clinton was built to replace Fort Amsterdam which was stood just east of here and was demolished in 1790. Construction began in 1808. It was completed in 1811–Just in time for the War of 1812.

Castle Clinton was originally called the west battery. It was renamed in 1815 to honor New York City Mayor and future Governor DeWitt Clinton.

In the 1820’s the Castle was renamed Castle Garden. The Garden hosted shows and concerts until the 1850’s when it became an immigration station. When those operations were moved to Ellis Island in the 1890’s the Castle became the New York Aquarium until 1941. 

Today this is where people buy tickets for Statue of Liberty tours.

There are still some remnants of the fort around.

I don’t know why it’s in here but they have some information on Federal Hall which we saw on my walk through Wall Street. 

And out the other side of Castle Clinton you can see the Statue of Liberty.

I came across another $1 water vendor. This one is selling Walmart waters.

One of the many memorials in The Battery is the East Coast Memorial which honors those who lost their lives in the Atlantic Ocean during World War II. It was dedicated by President John F. Kennedy in 1963.

We have a view of One World Trade Center from here. I’ll be going there tomorrow.

I have exited the park. I’m heading across the street to Fraunce’s Tavern. 

Fraunce’s Tavern was built in 1719. Back then this was the only building around here. The others were all built around it.

This is where George Washington celebrated with his officers after the British vacated New York in 1783. 

They are replaying the Mets game I went to.

Porterhouse oyster stout. This was brewed at their brewery in Dublin, Ireland.

Samuel Fraunces American Amber Ale. This is from Flagship Brewing in Staten Island. You can only get this one here.

This is their Chefs table.

And their main restaurant.

I may need instructions for the hand towel dispenser.

I moved a couple blocks down to Elevated acre. This is a popular place to bring your lunch if you work around here.

From up here we have a view of the Brooklyn Bridge. I hope to be able to walk across it tomorrow but I don’t know if I’m going to have time.

That’s Brooklyn.

It’s pretty loud here due to all of those helicopters. 

I am heading back towards the park. This is the Vietnam Veterans Plaza.

Now I’m passing Governor’s Island Ferry.

And the Staten Island Ferry.

Keeping with the Park theme I’m going to continue to Rockefeller Park which I actually do between One World Trade Center and Empire State Building tomorrow.

This is the Irish hunger memorial.

Here you can tell how far we are now from The Battery. Castle Clinton was right by the Statue.

Rockefeller Park is really nice. I didn’t take nearly enough pictures of it. I did get this skatepark at the end but I didn’t get the mini golf course or the basketball courts. There was a lot going on there.

I continued on to an important landmark.

We’ll finish this off with lunch at Prince Street Pizza.

Prince street pizza has the regular New York slice but I heard the thing to do here is the Sicilian slice.

Next time we’re taking a ride on the Staten Island Ferry.

 

 

 

• New York