A Place To While Away An Hour - New York's Battery Park

Introduction

The article "Battery Park - While Away an Hour or Two" from June 1912 highlights Battery Park in New York as a fascinating destination for visitors. It describes the park's unique architecture, historical significance, and various activities available for immigrants and locals alike.

Battery and old Castle Garden, New York, NY, c1900. Detroit Publishing Co. # 012489. Library of Congress LCCN 2016799505. GGA Image ID # 14b5299ef0

The best place in town to observe the activities of the Immigrants at Ellis Island.

The Battery: A Place To While Away An Hour. One of New York's Interesting Places. It is well Worth a Trip of Exploration.

If you have an hour to spare in New York, the thing to do is visit the Battery.

There is no place like it in the world. Sunset or fog-blanketed harbor, water breeze of the dog days or blinding winter blizzard, lounging crowds or marching pageant of shipping, clear sky or cloudy, night or noon—something will cheer you and leave you the fresher for your stroll between the skyscrapers and the sea. The Battery, with its natural beauty, will not bore you.

It is a place of odd and remarkable things. The building line curves and twists and goes off at curious angles. Some of the houses are old, slant-roofed, and picturesque. Even the elevated railway has a fascinating look as it crawls out of its dusky path among the buildings and uncoils itself southward, striking lazily at the ferry house with a fangless, harmless head. The unique architectural features of The Battery will surely fascinate you.

There is a twenty-story building at the Battery, and when they ran up a lean-to behind it, they made it thirty stories for good measure.

There has been a Barge Office at the tip of Manhattan since the days of the Continental Congress, or thereabout. For many years, passengers and baggage from incoming vessels were taken there in barges to be searched by the revenue men. The gray stone structure of today dates from 1882.

It is the point of departure for the customs men who board incoming liners. Behind it is a pier where the cutters lie rubbing their noses on the granite sea wall. At the outer end, the Ellis Island ferry lands, and from the iron gate in front, half a million immigrants a year are first set free on American soil.

The present Barge Office is odd enough, with its stubby gray tower, more like a new church in a prosperous country town than a metropolitan office of the United States government. But the aquarium is odder still. Not only is it one of the most picturesque buildings in the city, but the traditions of old New York cluster about it as thick as the Cyclopean masonry of its walls.

It was built—the same huge, brown, liver-shaped cheese today on a shoal in the harbor, a good three hundred yards from the shore. At that time, in 1807, it was a masterpiece of fortification. The curved front toward the sea was fourteen feet thick of solid masonry; the outer face slanted outward slightly, like the side of a milk pail, so that a plunging shot would be deflected and not strike at a right angle. This historical fort was named Castle Clinton.

Shoreward, the two lobes of the liver swept in two curves toward the sheltered entrance, and they were made bombproof by doubling the thickness of the stone. There is hardly such a mass of cut stone anywhere else in the city except, perhaps, in the piers of some of the East River bridges. The fort was named Castle Clinton.

It needed to be updated in fifteen years, and the federal government ceded it to the city in 1822. In 1824, Lafayette was received there. Later, it was leased to private individuals, a stage was built, and it became the grand auditorium of America. It would seat 6,000 people, and it is said that as many as 10,000 have crowded into its walls. It was then called Castle Garden, which is still its proper name. Opera was sung there for years, first by the Havana Opera Company in 1847. P. T. Barnum leased it and brought out Jenny Lind in a great concert on September 11, 1850.

In those days, it was reached by a bridge from the mainland. Since then, all the land that is now Battery Park has been "made" by filling in. In 1855, the government took it as a receiving station for immigrants, and it continued in this service for many years. In 1870, the interior was burned, although the masonry remained uninjured.

As an aquarium, it is the most popular museum in the world. The Zoo in London has only 800,000 or 900,000 visitors yearly, and the Bronx Zoo has 1,300,000. However, the Aquarium is visited by nearly 4,000,000 persons every year; in 1909, the number was 3,800,000. An enlargement is planned to accommodate these vast crowds.

Fall River Line Journal, Vol. XXXIV. New York, June 10, 1912. No. 12

Conclusion

Battery Park serves as a vibrant hub of activity and historical significance in New York City. Its blend of natural beauty, historical structures, and dynamic atmosphere makes it an essential spot for both immigrants arriving at Ellis Island and city residents.

Key Points

• 🏞️ Scenic Views: The park offers stunning views of the harbor and New York's skyline.
• 🏛️ Historical Buildings: Features notable structures like the Barge Office and Castle Clinton.
• 🚶 Visitor Activities: A place for leisure walks, observing shipping activities, and enjoying the natural environment.
• 🌳 Natural Beauty: Describes the park's greenery and picturesque settings.
• 🚢 Ellis Island Proximity: Highlights its role as a first glimpse of America for immigrants.
• 🏙️ Architectural Interest: The park contains a mix of old and new architectural styles.
• 🐠 Aquarium: Discusses the popularity and historical background of the park's aquarium.
• 🚋 Transportation Links: Accessible via elevated railways and ferries.
• 🎵 Cultural Events: A venue for concerts and other cultural activities.
• 📜 Rich History: Emphasizes the park's historical significance from colonial times to the early 20th century.

Summary

1. Introduction to Battery Park: The article introduces Battery Park as an engaging and historically rich destination in New York City.
2. Scenic and Architectural Appeal: Highlights the park's scenic beauty and interesting architecture.
3. Historical Structures: Discusses significant buildings like the Barge Office and Castle Clinton.
4. Visitor Experience: Describes the activities available, including leisure walks and observing harbor activities.
5. Connection to Ellis Island: Battery Park's proximity to Ellis Island made it a significant spot for arriving immigrants.
6. Aquarium Popularity: The park's aquarium is noted as one of the most visited in the world.
7. Transportation Access: The park is easily accessible by various transportation means, including ferries and railways.
8. Cultural Significance: Venue for cultural events and concerts, enhancing its community role.
9. Natural and Historical Blend: Combines natural beauty with a rich historical background, making it a unique urban space.
10. Overall Significance: The article concludes by underscoring Battery Park's importance as a recreational and historical landmark in New York City.