When the Brooklyn Bridge opened in 1883 it was the longest suspension bridge ever built! Since then it has been designated a National Historic Landmark by the National Park Service as well as a New York City Landmark by the Landmarks Preservation Commission. The bridge requires periodic repairs and upgrades which was partially funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.
Brooklyn Bridge Love Locks: It seems that any fashionable city has a bridge with metal locks affixed to it. Started in the 1990s, Brooklyn joined this elite club that includes Paris, Amsterdam, and Kyiv. You can affix your own love lock there, but expect that it will be cut off just like the rest of the locks in order to preserve the structural integrity of the bridge. The best time to go if you'd like to avoid crowds is at sunrise.
This fish-themed carousel in Battery Park opened in August 2015. The SeaGlass Carousel features seating on such species as the Siamese fighting fish and was designed to resemble an under-the-sea garden. Visitors ride on fish that appear to be made of sea glass, shimmering as though they were bioluminescent. The carousel publicly opened on August 20, 2015.
The first NYC subway opened on October 27, 1904 and the City Hall station was lavished with fine architectural details including glass tiles and large chandeliers. The CTH was the least used by commuters for a number of reasons - one being the curved platform which prevented cars with center doors to be used unless they had specially modified door controls which meant only the end doors were usually opened. Also, the Brooklyn Bridge stop was used far more.
The Flatiron Building was originally known as the Fuller Building. It's a triangular 22 story, steel-framed structure located at 175 Fifth Avenue in Manhattan, NYC, and it's a building that is hard to miss when you're in that area in New York. Upon completion in 1902, the Flatiron one of the tallest buildings in the city. The building was designated a New York City landmark in 1966 and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1979.
Washington Square Park is a 9.75-acre public park in the Greenwich Village neighborhood of lower Manhattan. The park is one of New York's best known public parks. The Park is an open space, dominated by the Washington Square Arch at the northern gateway to the park, with a tradition of celebrating nonconformity. This is one of two prominent features of the park - the other being a large fountain.
This iconic bridge curves gracefully over the neck of the Pond at 59th Street. Gapstow is the second bridge on the Central Park site. The first, a much more elaborate wood and iron bridge, designed by Jacob Wrey Mould, deteriorated and was replaced in 1896. Dazzling views of the surrounding cityscape can be seen from this bridge including the Plaza Hotel and New York's skyscrapers and in the winter, look southward to see Wollman Rink's twirling skaters.
Strawberry Fields is a 2.5-acre landscaped section of land in New York Central Park dedicated to the memory of former Beatle, John Lennon. It's named after the Beatles' song "Strawberry Fields Forever" written by Lennon.
Everyone loves to go to the top of the Empire State Building but sometimes the line extends from the lobby out onto 5th Avenue and around the corner onto 34th Street. So, why not skip that line in favor of the Top of the Rock? TOTR has tickets which are timed resulting in much shorter waits. It's a weather-dependent activity so it's best to get your tickets on the same day you want to go.
This aerial greenway called The High Line looks downtown at 20th Street. It's vegetation pays homage to the wild plants that colonized the abandoned railway before it was repurposed. The Highline park gets nearly 5 million visitors annually.
The Museum of Sex is located at 233 Fifth Avenue at the corner of East 27th Street in Manhattan, New York City. It opened in 2002 and its founder, Daniel Gluck, wanted to start a museum dedicated to "the history, evolution, and cultural significance of human sexuality." The museum exhibits cover a variety of sexual preferences and subcultures, including lesbian and gay history and erotica, BDSM, pornography, and sex work.
The abandoned 100-bed hospital located on Roosevelt Island in Manhattan, New York City was originally designed by architect James Renwick, Jr. It opened in 1856 when the area was known better as Blackwell's Island. The hospital closed a century after it opened and the building eventually fell into disrepair. The city designated the ruin a New York City landmark and it's the only ruin in the city with that designation.
State Street Global Advisors was the firm that commissioned this bronze statue of a four-foot-tall diminutive girl who bravely faces off the charging bull of Wall Street. She has been lauded and derided but she has definitely had an impact on Americans. If you want a selfie with Fearless Girl standing steadfast against the male bovine don't wait too much longer as she will soon get a new home elsewhere in New York City.
The Evolution Store has been a premier retail destination in NYC since 1993. There you'll find everything concerning science and natural history, plus collectibles, artifacts, gifts, and home decor. Definitely a unique and informative shopping experience.
This magical merry-go-round was first built in 1922 and lovingly restored to its original dazzling beauty. Encased in glass like a giant music box, the lighted carousel is part of the enchanting scenery when viewed across the water with the New York skyline as its backdrop.
Kids are not only allowed but encouraged to play on this work of art! Commissioned by George Delacorte as a gift to his wife who loved reading Lewis Carroll, the sculpture was lovingly crafted by artist Jose de Creeft. Delacorte specifically wanted children to experience the magic of "Alice in Wonderland." He wasn't without humor; the Mad Hatter is actually a caricature of Delacorte.