From fashion, food and Fifth Avenue shopping--not to mention taking in a show on Broadway--most people flock to the Big Apple for the ever-changing action. However, there are also a host of man-made, architectural wonders for the historic-minded tourist to explore.
Not many realize that this famed gateway to America was originally a tiny land mass known as Oyster Island that barely peeked above the ocean's surface during high tide. Landfill removed to accommodate the New York City subway tunnels expanded the renamed island to its current size of 6 acres back in 1890. Two years later, the Ellis Island Immigration Station was officially opened on the man-made island.
The Statue of Liberty-Ellis Island Foundation, Inc.
Attention: History Center
17 Battery Place #210
New York, NY 10004-3507
(212) 561-4588
ellisisland.org
Dubbed the world's most famous office building, the Empire States building was erected in 1930 from a design based the shape of a pencil. The legendary observation deck, featured in movies like "An Affair to Remember" and "Sleepless in Seattle," was originally intended to function as a mooring dock for dirigibles, but unexpected wind conditions made the feat impossible.
Empire State Building
350 5th Ave
New York, NY 10018
(212) 736-3100
esbnyc.com
The other Art Deco wonder of the New York City skyline, the Chrysler Building, has no official tours available but has a beautiful period lobby that's open to the public. For tourists who'd prefer a closer view of the building's exterior architecture than the Empire's Observation Deck offers, helicopter tours of Manhattan offer a bird's-eye view.
Chrysler Building
405 Lexington Avenue
New York, NY 10174-0005
(212) 682-4639
A gift from the French back in 1886, its official name is the Statue of Liberty Enlightening the World. Arguably the most famous icon associated with the American dream around the world, this man-made wonder greeted millions of immigrants, hoping the inscription on her base would prove to be true. "Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free..." Tours on the island are available only through the National Monument site, though visitors should note that since 9/11, climbing up into the statue is no longer part of the tour.
Statue of Liberty
National Park Services Liberty Island
New York, NY 10004
(212) 363-3200
nps.gov
Another man-made wonder that many visitors often mistake as natural, Central Park is considered by many to be an important work of American art of the 19th century. Originally low-lying swamp land, all of the park's 843 acres of hills, lakes, rivers, meadows and woodland areas were carefully planned and sculpted by the park's designers. Only one side an original rock formation known as the Manhattan schist was retained from the site's natural landscaping. Guests can go boating, horseback riding, attend concerts, play in the 21 unique parks, visit the zoo or enjoy one of the other dozens of activities available within the park.
Central Park Conservancy
14 East 60th Street
New York, NY 10021
(212) 310-6600
centralparknyc.org
