Central Park has quite a few interesting sculptures and statues, and one such monument is dedicated to an important figure in the U.S. history, Alexander Hamilton. This classic 19th-century era statue can be found near the Great Lawn. Unquestionably the most undervalued Founding Father, Hamilton is depicted standing firmly, dressed and posing in colonial attire (wig, ruffled collar, knickers, and buckle shoes), and appearing stately and dignified.

Appointed as the 1st United States Secretary of the Treasury on September 11, 1789, the statesman was a good friend of George Washington. He fought in the Revolutionary War, and was active in ending the legality of the international slave trade. Standing much taller than others in Central Park, the granite statue was gifted to the city by his son, John C. Hamilton in 1880.

Established in 1869, this timeless museum houses an astonishing array of approximately 34 million artifacts, complemented by a state-of-the-art planetarium. From October to May, it hosts a captivating Butterfly Conservatory, featuring over 500 species of butterflies from various corners of the world. Among its renowned highlights are the Fossil Halls, showcasing an impressive collection of nearly 600 specimens, including the awe-inspiring skeletons of a colossal mammoth and a formidable Tyrannosaurus rex.

The museum offers an abundance of animal exhibits, galleries dedicated to precious gems, and an IMAX theater. The Hall of Ocean Life captivates visitors with dioramas that delve into the realms of ecology and conservation, along with a beloved 94-foot replica of a majestic blue whale suspended from the ceiling. At one entrance, a remarkable 63-foot, 19th-century canoe intricately carved by the talented Haida people of British Columbia extends a warm welcome.

For enthusiasts of the cosmos, the Rose Center for Earth & Space takes center stage. Its glass-box facade serves as a gateway to space-show theaters and a captivating planetarium, creating an otherworldly ambiance. Dark Universe, a presentation narrated by Neil deGrasse Tyson and frequently showcased, delves into the mysteries and breathtaking wonders of the universe.
Due to its immense popularity, the museum tends to be crowded on weekends. It is advisable to plan an early visit on a weekday to make the most of your experience.

Why You Should Visit:
One of the largest and finest museums on Earth!

Tip:
Note that certain special exhibits may require an additional fee, so it is advisable to research and plan ahead for the specific attractions you wish to visit.
Furthermore, it is recommended to have a meal before your visit, as the on-site dining options can be quite pricey and may not meet expectations in terms of quality.

There are two Saint Patrick's Cathedrals in New York City. The construction of New Saint Patrick's Cathedral was started in 1858 to accommodate the growing Archdiocese of New York and to replace Saint Patrick's Old Cathedral, built in 1815. New Saint Patrick's is the enormous Gothic Revival edifice erected between 50th and 51st Streets on Madison Avenue in Manhattan. It is the seat of the Archbishop of New York. Located directly across from Rockefeller Center, it was designed by architect James Renwick, Jr., and inaugurated in 1879.

The Midtown Cathedral is triumphantly vertical and Gothic. It is clad in marble. It has dozens of stained glass windows encased in pointed arches topped by triangular pediments. It is 332 feet long and the transepts are 174 feet wide. Soaring spires flank the enormous bronze entrance doors. The spires reach a height of 330 feet.

Inside is a nave with a center aisle and two side aisles. Thirty-two marble columns separate the center and side aisles. Above the center aisle are groin vaults supported by ribs and bosses. There are 12 chapels in the side aisles. The interior is designed for a seating capacity of 2,400. There are 300 wooden pews.

The high altar is a replacement. The original was moved to Fordham University Church in the Bronx. The current altar is made of grey-white Italian marble covered with a bronze canopy or baldachin. There is no tabernacle or altar screen. The baldachin is topped by a statue of Christ the King flanked by angels and pinnacles.

The New Saint Patrick's Cathedral is a New York City designated landmark and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

If you’re looking for different and uncommon – but picture-perfect – views of the Manhattan skyline, the East River, and the Brooklyn Bridge, don’t hesitate to head off to this area. Easily the most scenic spot in Brooklyn, the Promenade also overlooks Brooklyn Bridge Park, which offers an additional destination to relax and appreciate the vantage points along the waterfront.

The pedestrian walkway stretches nearly two thousand feet, and while much of it is a flat, elevated platform, it actually consists of four stories. Despite the somewhat confusing topography, the Esplanade is certainly walkable.

There are several benches lining the path, and people make good use of them, whether they're reading, conversing over coffee with a friend, or just sitting and enjoying the view.

Oddly, although the Promenade is built over the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway, the noise doesn't ruin the calm, reflective atmosphere. If anything, it's a reminder that these peaceful places exist amid the hustle and bustle of everyday life in New York City.

The Brooklyn Bridge is a suspension bridge crossing the East River from Brooklyn to Manhattan in New York City. Since its construction, the bridge has become an icon of New York City, an outstanding architectural effort that is still admired across the world. The Brooklyn Bridge was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1964 and a National Historic Civil Engineering Landmark in 1972.

There had been proposals for a bridge connecting Brooklyn to Manhattan as early as the beginning of the 19th century. The Brooklyn Bridge was designed by civil engineer John Augustus Roebling. His son, Washington Roebling, was the chief engineer of the project. Construction began in 1869 and was completed in 1883. The bridge’s opening day, May 24, 1883, was marked by much celebration and was attended by the President of the United States Chester Alan Arthur.

The bridge is an early steel-wire suspension bridge. It has a cable-stayed suspension design fitted with vertical and diagonal suspender cables. Its huge stone towers have Neo-Gothic pointed arches. Clearance for shipping on the river is provided by viaducts with long approaches that raise the bridge well above the surface.

The main span between towers is almost 2,000 feet long. The bridge stretches and contracts up to 16 inches with temperature changes. Navigation clearance is 127 feet above high water. The spans are held up by six trusses parallel to the roadway. The trusses are carried by suspender ropes hanging from the four main cables.

A distinctive feature of the Brooklyn Bridge is an elevated promenade 18 feet above the automobile lanes. The promenade has a white line down the middle to separate cyclists from walkers. A stroll across the elevated pedestrian walkway provides a true New York City experience.

The original Federal Hall at 28 Wall Street in Lower Manhattan was built in 1703. It replaced the old Stadt Huys, the first city hall in New York City, built in the 17th century during Dutch colonial times. The new structure was used as a city hall, a library, a firehouse, and a debtors prison. The Stamp Act Congress and the Continental Congress met there. The inauguration of George Washington as the first President of the United States was held on April 30, 1789, on the balcony of Federal Hall.

The Federal Hall, demolished in 1812, was replaced by the Greek Revival-style Federal Hall. The new building, designed by architects Ithiel Town and Alexander J. Davis, was completed in 1842. The neoclassical edifice served as the U.S. Customs House and eventually the U.S. Sub-Treasury. It is today the Federal Hall National Memorial.

The building has a rotunda dome by sculptor John Frazee. The Greek Revival structure is built with Tuckahoe marble. The 18 steps of the main entrance are five-foot granite blocks. A large bronze sculpture of George Washington by sculptor John Quincy Adams Ward is installed on the front steps. The statue was unveiled in 1883 to commemorate the first inauguration of George Washington.

Doric colonnades hold up a triangular pediment. There are flat pilasters on the Nassau Street facade. The rotunda is 60 feet in diameter. It is an amphiprostyle with balconies. The wall of the rotunda has four sections, each containing four columns. A saucer dome tops the rotunda, covered with a circular skylight. The floor has marble blocks in a circular pattern. A stone in the center marks the spot where Washington once stood.

Federal Hall operates as a national memorial. It has tourist information about the monuments and parks in the New York Harbor area and a New York City tourism information center. The memorial has several exhibits open to the public. The gift shop has colonial and early American items for sale.

In 1899, Supervising Architect of the Treasury James Knox Taylor invited twenty firms to compete for the commission of the new U.S. Customs House in New York City. Architect Cass Gilbert won the project.

Gilbert's design reflected the aesthetic ideas of the "City Beautiful Movement," themes of patriotism and urbanity. Constructed in 1907, the seven-story building has three-story Corinthian columns. The fifth story is wrapped with an enormous entablature frieze. The seventh story is covered by the mansard roof. Enclosed pediments mark the second-floor windows.

The main entrance consists of a grand staircase flanked by four female statues representing America, Asia, Europe, and Africa, by sculptor Daniel Chester French. Above the columns on the facade are twelve marble figures of maritime nations. Over the windows are heads showing the "eight races" of humanity.

The interior is based on a square plan with a central rotunda surrounded by corridors. The ceremonial Great Hall on the second floor is finished in marble colors and textures. There are curved staircases at both ends with bronze railings, marble treads, and risers. Rooms are decorated with nautical motifs and items.

Ceiling murals by American painter Reginald Marsh show ships entering the harbor. The three-story rotunda is the masterpiece of Spanish engineer Raphael Guastavino.

The Custom House was renamed in 1990 to commemorate Alexander Hamilton, one of the Founding Fathers of the United States and its first Secretary of the Treasure. The building was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1976.

Fort Amsterdam was the first fort in Manhattan. It was built in 1626 when New York City was known by the Dutch name New Amsterdam. Fort Amsterdam was demolished in 1790, and a new fort called "West Battery" was installed at the tip of Manhattan Island in 1811.

Designed by architect John McComb Jr. with Army Colonel Jonathan Williams as a consulting engineer, West Battery was roughly circular with a radius of approximately 92 feet. It had a battery of 28 "thirty-two pounder" cannons, complementing triple-tiered Castle Williams on nearby Governors Island. A wood bridge connected the fort to the tip of lower Manhattan.

In 1815, West Battery was named Fort Clinton in honor of New York City Mayor DeWitt Clinton. The fort was garrisoned in 1812 but never used for combat. It became a popular promenade and beer garden. Later, it was an immigration center. Between 1896 and 1941, it was converted into an aquarium. Now it's a tourist center and terminal for the Statue of Liberty ferry.

The recently renovated 25-acre Battery Park has more than a few monuments and memorials, mostly located on "Monument Walk." Hope Garden is a memorial dedicated to AIDS victims. The Sphere, the world's largest bronze sculpture by German artist Fritz Koenig, was exhibited there. The Netherland Monument recalls the purchase of Manhattan Island.

Other memorials are The Memorial of the Battle of the Atlantic; The American Merchant Marine Memorial; The Immigrants; The Korean War; John Ericsson and the USS Monitor; and the Explorer Giovanni da Verrazzano statue. Battery Park is part of the Manhattan Waterfront Greenway that surrounds the entire island of Manhattan.