Battery Park is the oldest place in New York, where the city began. This is an amazingly beautiful, well-groomed and attractive green area on the southern tip of Manhattan, full of various monuments.

As you might guess, the park is named after the artillery batteries that once stood here, protecting the city from the sea. Since the 17th century, Fort Amsterdam, built by the Dutch, has been located here - under the protection of its walls in 1625, whites bought Manhattan from the Indians for 60 guilders. A flagpole towering above a granite pedestal reminds of this event - an Indian leader in feathers and a European in a camisole are carved on it, making a deal.

The successor to the fort was Castle Clinton, built in 1811 on the eve of the American-British War. Its cannons were never fired at the enemy, and in 1855 the castle became a center for receiving immigrants. Eight million people first set foot here in America until the government transferred immigrant reception to Ellis Island in 1890. Then the castle housed the New York Aquarium, but in 1941, due to the construction of the Lower Manhattan-Brooklyn tunnel (it runs under the park), it was evicted. Now the castle has been restored, its historical appearance has been returned, and the ancient cannons have returned.

In the northern part of the park you can see the “Sphere” by the German sculptor Fritz Koenig - a crumpled, torn ball. The sculpture stood on the square between the two towers of the World shopping center and received these damages on September 11, 2001. Koenig deliberately did not correct them - this is a memory of the blow dealt to the city.

The park contains several war memorials: to veterans of the Korean War, merchant sailors who died during World War II, military personnel who fell off the Atlantic coast of the United States, and sailors of Norwegian military and merchant ships. There is also a monument to the creator of the famous battleship Monitor, John Ericsson, and a memorial plaque to Admiral George Dewey, the winner of the battle of Manila Bay.

Adjacent to the park is a free ferry pier that runs regularly to Staten Island. From the park itself you can also take a ferry to get to Liberty Island, the island on which rises famous statue Freedom. It is clearly visible from the benches on the embankment.

Since Battery Park is located in one of the most expensive areas cities with numerous offices, white-collar workers pour out here at lunchtime to eat their lunch in the fresh air. On the embankment there are a lot of amateur fishermen, mothers with strollers stroll around, yachts carry their white sails across the bay. An unusual attraction of the park is an urban farm where 80 types of vegetables and fruits are grown. Students and schoolchildren work here. A real farm, located against the backdrop of skyscrapers, makes an incredible impression.

The area of ​​the park is 10 hectares. From the south it is limited by the waters of New York Harbor, from the north - by Battery Place. Battery Park is one of the oldest recreational areas in New York. On its territory there is a port (on the Hudson River), which is the starting point for the departure of ferries to the island, to, to Staten Island and, in the summer, to Governors Island.

The park itself contains many monuments and monuments: including the Castle Clinton National Monument, the Sphere of the German sculptor Fritz Koenig (since 2002), the Netherlands Memorial ( Netherlands Memorial), East Coast War Memorial ( East Coast War Memorial), “Monument to the First Jewish Immigrant,” as well as monuments to John Erickson, Giovanni da Verrazano, and poet Emma Lazarus.

The name of the park comes from the Dutch cannon battery located here in the 17th century, which guarded the approaches from the ocean to New Amsterdam. To date, as a result of excavation work, the position of the coast has been changed; it goes further into the sea than before. After the destruction of the World Trade Center skyscrapers as a result of the terrorist attack on September 11, 2001, debris from buildings was brought here, which increased the area of ​​the park by approximately 2 hectares. Battery Park is visited annually by about 6 million guests from all continents.

Can't help but go for a walk in Battery Park. What is remarkable about this park area? What facts of history are hidden among the dense trees and majestic monuments?

Battery Park is named after the artillery pieces that defended New York from the sea from enemies. This park is the oldest place in the city, full of monuments and cultural attractions of the United States.

In addition, Battery Park is one of the largest in America. 10 hectares of clean parkland are located in the south of New York. On the south side, the park is washed by waters from New York Bay. To the north is Battery Place.

This is the starting point for ferries to the famous American islands- Ellis Island, Governors Island and Staten Island.

Battery Park Monuments

"Sphere" from the German sculptor Koenig, a once majestic architectural monument now resembles a dented ball. It is reminiscent of the tragedy of September 11th. The sculpture stood in a square in the center of New York and was seriously damaged as a result of a terrorist attack on the city. It was decided to move the “Sphere” to Battery Park as a reminder of that terrible day.

Wartime memorials are a special pride of the park. There are dozens of large monuments here that represent the strength and courage of American soldiers. Among them:

  • a memorial in memory of Korean War veterans;
  • monument to J. Erickson, the immortal creator of the battleship Monitor;
  • bronze plaque to Admiral Dewey, who became a true American hero after the Battle of Manila Bay.

What is the first thing you will remember about the park?

Battery Park is located in one of the most expensive and promising areas of New York. Every day you can meet hundreds of bankers and office workers here who want to take a walk through the beautiful park area during their lunch break.

The main "shocking" attraction of the park is the vast farm. It's a reminder of simple village life in the background office buildings and skyscrapers makes a lasting impression.

On the farm nearby schoolchildren educational institutions They grow more than 80 types of different crops. Each school has its own plot of land, which students look after.

More than 5 million tourists from all over the world come to Battery Park every year. This unique place, which shows both the workdays of New York and military history America. Moreover, the park is one of the few places in bustling New York where every guest feels at one with nature.

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Battery Park (New York, USA): detailed description, address and photo. Opportunities for sports and recreation, infrastructure, cafes and restaurants in the park. Reviews from tourists.

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Tourists wandering through the concrete jungle of Manhattan sooner or later find themselves among flowers and trees on the very shore of New York Bay. Experts in urban legends will explain to them that the construction of the great metropolis began from here. And today Battery Park is filled with monuments, mothers walking with baby strollers, fishermen, and, at lunchtime, clerks from nearby offices. A well-kept island of greenery near the bustling business center gives everyone at least a little rest and relatively fresh air.

A little history

On the black granite pedestal under the flagpole in Battery Park is engraved an Indian in feathers and a respectable Dutchman in a doublet, giving him payment for the island of Manhattan. A very fair deal cost the Europeans as much as 60 guilders. At this place they installed an artillery battery that protected them from enemy ships. new town New Amsterdam. Since then, the area received its warlike name - Battery. But this did not help, very soon the British took possession of the island, already for free. The city was renamed New York, and the Indians were simply exterminated.

What to see

It so happened that memorials of US military glory were concentrated in Battery Park. This is a monument to veterans of the Korean War, a bronze plate dedicated to Admiral Dewey, who sank the Spanish fleet off Manila in 1898, a monument to J. Erickson, the author of the project of the world's first battleship "Monitor", a memorial to the sailors of the Netherlands who died during the Second World War while escorting northern convoys in the USSR.

Another monument recalls the tragedy of September 11, 2001. A huge golden ball, symbolizing the Earth, stood near the twin towers and was distorted by the explosion. The author, sculptor Fritz Koenig, did not restore his creation and agreed to move it to the main alley of Battery Park, where it now serves as a reminder of the threat of terrorism.

Thousands of tons of concrete debris left after the explosion flooded along coastline, due to which the park area increased by several hectares. Now Clinton Castle, a fort built in 1812 on an island off the coast to protect New York from the mythical Napoleonic invasion, was on dry land. Until the main immigrant reception terminal was moved to Alice Island, it served as a filtration center for all those arriving in America for permanent residence. At least 8 million people passed through the fort. Today, the fort houses a museum that tells the story of this epic period in US history.

The most unusual attraction of the park is a working farm where about 80 types of vegetables and fruits are grown. Students from nearby schools take care of them, at the same time getting to know the realities of work and life in the American outback. Peaceful vegetable gardens in the background glass skyscrapers look absolutely stunning.

Practical information

Address: New York, Manhattan.

How to get there: by metro to the station. Bowling Green or South Ferry, admission to the park is free.

Battery Park is a public park located at the southern end of Manhattan Island. It's green recreational area between the open waters of New York Harbor and the skyscrapers of the financial districts.

Since the founding of the settlement, artillery was located in the south of Manhattan Island to protect the settlers. Over time, the name “Battery” began to mean not only the artillery battery itself, but also the entire southern part islands. Since at least the 17th century, Battery has been popular place for walks and relaxation. And the park area itself was formed here in the 19th century.

Inside Battery Park is Castle Clinton, a former military fort built in 1808. The fort received its name thanks to the 6th Governor of New York, DeWitt Clinton. Since the time of mass European immigration, Castle Clinton has served as a filtering point for those staying in New World. Millions of immigrants passed through Castle Clinton before the immigration terminal was moved to Ellis Island. IN different times Castle Clinton was used as a beer garden, a theater and an aquarium.




Castle Clinton then and now

Tickets are currently on sale here for ferry crossings to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. There are also free ferries to Staten Island from the South Ferry Terminal, located on the eastern side of the Battery.



In the photo: New York Harbor embankment, South Ferry Terminal, Merchant Navy Sailors' Monument, Staten Island Ferry.

North of Battery Park, on the site where Fort Amsterdam stood almost 400 years ago, is the Alexander Hamilton U.S. Custom House. Now one of the branches is located here National Museum American Indians (National Museum of the American Indian).