Before there was an Ellis Island -- before the Statue of Liberty went up -- immigrants still came to America! They had to land somewhere, and in those far-away days, that place was Castle Garden.
You might know it today as Castle Clinton, the National Monument. It's located in the Battery Park section of Manhattan, and if your ancestors sailed into New York Harbor any time between 1855 and 1890, it's the first building they'd have visited on this side of the pond.
West Battery, an Island Fortress
Castle Clinton began its life as West Battery between 1808 and 1811 on an artificial island in New York Harbor. Designed as an island fortification for the War of 1812 and connected to Manhattan by nothing more than a causeway bridge, it complemented its sister battery, Castle Williams, built just across the harbor on Governors Island.
Dignitaries and Entertainers, Enter Here
After the war, West Battery underwent a major transformation. Renamed Castle Clinton in 1817 in honor of New York's then-governor, the name changed again to Castle Garden in 1824. Artisans upgraded its decor with flowers and fountains to match, and the place began serving as a reception hall for New York's more distinguished visitors. Among them could be found such major lights as President Andrew Jackson, Louis Kossuth, General Lafayette, and Prince Albert.
Castle Garden: Theatre and Opera House
These glorious visits continued until the late 1840s, when Castle Garden morphed into a concert hall. For a few glorious years, it showcased the fireworks, concerts and talent of the day. In 1850, Swedish soprano Jenny Lind made her American debut at Castle Garden, promoted by none other than P. T. "There's-One-Born-Every-Minute" Barnum.
But What About the I...
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... the summer of 1975, it opened its doors foor the first time in 34 years. Eleven years later, although somewhat beneath the castle's dignity, the National Park Service began to use it as a ticket office, selling harbor trips to Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty.
Still at the Same Old Stand
Castle Clinton stands proudly today at its grand old spot in Battery Park, staunchly waiting to greet you. Walk inside its thick stone walls, and see what it felt like in the good old days, when fortresses were fortresses, and people were glad of it. Enjoy reading the historical markers attached to its walls, and thank the civic groups of the 1940s who fought to make this possible. And if you're so inclined, you might decide to hop a ferry and see the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, up close and personal. If so, you know where to buy your ticket. Enjoy your tour!
Portchester Castle Portchster Castle is a concentric castle, dating from Roman times situated at the top of Portsmouth harbour. It has a 9-acre site and was built from flint and stone. The castle had bastions and a tidal moat, at the centre of the castle would have been accommodation. Portchester Castle was originally built by the Romans to protect the South coast of England from invasion by the Saxons. Portchester was one of a series of forts built around the country and was typical of Roman forts.
On April 14, 2017 my mom and I visited the Montclair Art Museum. Upon entering, I observed the beautiful neoclassical architecture and roman cathedral like columns outside of the museum. Located on Bloomfield Ave, just miles from New York City, the Montclair Art Museum holds some of the best American and Native American art works. The different galleries and collections along with the breathtaking sculptures, paintings, and carvings added to my positive experience and I look forward to further exploring the world of art.
Reflecting the excesses of the Gilded Age, Vizcaya, named after a northern province in Spain, is often called the “Hearst Castle of the East.” With soaring ceilings, sinuous staircases, beautifully textured walls, and monumental columns, Vizcaya is no shrinking violet!
Australia has the terrible condition of having an essentially pointless and prefabricated idea of “Aussiness” that really has no relation to our real culture or the way in which we really see ourselves. We, however subscribe to these stereotypes when trying to find some expression of our Australian identity. The feature film, The Castle, deals with issues about Australian identity in the 1990’s. The film uses techniques like camera shots, language and the use of narration to develop conflict between a decent, old fashioned suburban family, the Kerrigans and an unscrupulous corporation called Airlink. Feature films like The Castle are cultural products because they use attitudes, values and stereotypes about what it means to be Australian.
The house was built in 1917 by William Bowers Bourn, a San Francisco millionaire whose wealth came from gold mining . Construction of the large property took 2 years, while it took 12 years to build the formal gardens, which were completed in 1929. Its name was created by Bourn, using the first 2 letters from the key words of his credo: “Fight for a just cause; Love your fellow man; Live a good life.” After the deaths of Bourn and his wife in 1936, it was purchased by William Roth, another prominent San Franciscan, who pr...
The 18th Century was a time where most immigrants were of Irish, British, and German descent. From the 1890’s, through the next couple decade, Italians, and Jews would be the cause a new wave of immigration. Between 1900 and 1915, 3 million immigrants would take the journey, and travel to America. They would come through the famed “Ellis
Hickey, Andrew S. The story of Kingston, First Capital of New York State 1609-1952: New York, Stratford House, 1952
...nal Expansion Memorial. Inside the building museum exhibits can be found. It now currently is being preserved by them to remind everyone of a fine example of nineteenth-century architecture. (“Old Courthouse Architecture”)
One of the jewels of University Circle, Cleveland's cultural district, Severance Hall is located on the corner of East Boulevard and Euclid Avenue and is famous all across the country for having exquisite architecture, as well as extraordinary sound in its main concert hall. Despite the deteriorating economy during the Great Depression, construction began in 1929 and was finally finished in 1931. Since its opening in 1931, the world-renowned Cleveland Orchestra has held the majority of its concerts there, and uses Severance Hall as its home. It is also listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Severance Hall, including its amenities and appearance, is a major feature in the downtown scene of the city of Cleveland.
... two remaining sites on the property are retained by the Army, the South Plants location due to historical use and the North Plant location which is now a landfill containing the remains of various buildings used in the North and South Plant locations. As of May 21, 2011 the official Visitor Center was opened with an exhibit about the site's history ranging from the homesteading era to its current use as a National Wildlife Refuge.
Early History In the early history of Ellis Island, much of the upper New York Bay, which consisted of oyster banks, which was the main source of food for the Lenape people. There were a few islands that were not submerged in the high tide which were later known as Liberty Island, Black Tom Island and Ellis Island, all three were called the Oyster Islands by the original settlers of New Netherland. The oyster beds on the islands lasted for almost 3 centuries, but nevertheless the railyard company Lehigh Valley Railroad and The Central Railroad of New Jersey destroyed the oyster beds. In the 1770s Samuel Ellis became the private owner of Ellis Island, but not too much later in 1794, the state of New York leased Ellis Island, during the time 1794-1890, there was not much going on in Ellis Island, but it still played a role in the United States military as a federal arsenal and other military stations.
Fraunces Tavern in New York City, was originally built in 1719. By the last decade of the 17th century, New York City was rapidly growing into a leading colonial port. With its naturally protected harbor and its open, multi-ethnic population devoted to commerce, such growth was unstoppable. Before its use as a headquarters for Washington during the American Revolution, its purpose was to serve as the mansion of the Delancey’s, who were a prominent New York City family. They rented out the building to merchants for business in the 1750s. Samuel Fraunces, an upcoming French-West Indian merchant purchased 54 Pearl Street in 1762 when he registered with the City as a “freeman” and “innholder”.
Following the steps of the Dutch who first came to Lower Manhattan, we embarked on the Staten Island Ferry on Sunday, Nov. 10, and we could see one of the world’s most famous figures: The Statue of Liberty, a gift from the French to the U.S. that was put in such a strategic and historic place. The view of the green icon from the boat that was transporting passengers from Staten Island to Lower Manhattan, with the skyline of New Jersey in the background, and New York to our right, was a delightful experience. Not one person on the ferry was like the other, one could see people from all over the world, joined together and representing New York’s diversity, trying to relive the same experience that the Dutch had centuries ago. Some people take this ride every day for work; others were simply tourists or inhabitants of the New York metropolitan area.
...s Plaza in Cadman Plaza and the Korean War Veterans Parkway, which was known as the Richmond Parkway until it was renamed in April 1997 by the New York State Legislature.
...at about 10 million people come to visit this monument every year. Tours every thirty minutes of the capitol building are open from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. everyday. For recorded information regarding tours of the Capitol, call 202-225-6827. (AOC.gov)