I recently had the chance to explore Manhattan for the weekend and was once again struck by what a dream place it is for a fan of U.S. history. From Gilded Age mansions, cemeteries, palatial libraries, museums, and Beaux-Arts train stations to soaring skyscrapers and cathedrals, there is plenty of grandeur to absorb. Since a picture is worth a 1000 words, I decided to do a photo essay of my most recent trip featuring some of my favorite places to see and things to do in NYC.
Midtown Manhattan
The Morgan Library in Murray Hill is truly a treasure. See Pierpont Morgan’s former library, study, and fabulous rotunda. In other areas of the museum, one visit galleries to see current exhibits. On Friday evenings, it is open to the public for free, so although a bit crowded it is well worth the journey there.
Whether you want to relive a Ghostbusters moment, check out one of the current exhibits, revel at the architecture, or research, a trip to New York wouldn’t be complete without a visit to the historic main branch of the New York Public Library.
While in the neighborhood, history buffs will want to check out the grandeur of Grand Central Station. The ceiling alone brings wonder, but the architecture of the entire station delights.
The weather was rather inclement for good photos, but while in the area of Grand Central, you may want to check out the Chrysler Building, Empire State Building, and Macy’s on 34th Street. While in the midtown area of Manhattan, I enjoy checking out Rockefeller Center. Although it shines at Christmas, it is neat any time of the year. As a U.S. historian, I greatly enjoy the NBC studios tour, which covers the history of National Broadcasting Corporation and its radio origins. Outside, Rockefeller Center puts on a show at Christmas time with its famous tree and ice-skating rink.
And while in the area, don’t forget to check out Atlas carrying the world.
Across the street from the Atlas statue on 5th Avenue is historic St. Patrick’s Cathedral. This church was built to affirm religious tolerance (Catholics had been poorly treated in America at the time) and paid for by the contributions of poor and rich alike.
And no trip to Manhattan would be complete without a requisite nighttime trip to Times Square.
Lower Manhattan
The Financial District provides lots of things to see and do. We didn’t get a chance to visit these, but the African Burial Ground, Federal Hall, the Woolworth Building, New York Stock Exchange, Charging Bull and Fearless Girl statues, and Battery Park are all historical notables in this area of lower Manhattan.
We were able to stop by New York’s City Hall (one of the nation’s oldest). Finished in 1812, this Federal-style building has French influences.
Built in 1766, St. Paul’s Chapel still holds services so travelers can worship where George Washington once attended. The cemetery in back provides a place for quiet reflection.
Directly behind St. Paul’s Chapel is the 9/11 Museum and One World Observatory. I was a stockbroker when the attacks occurred on September 11, 2001. It was that event that, in part, fueled my decision to become a historian. But on that day, I was a financial advisor and watching a business news station as I watched the cemetery of St. Paul’s get covered with debris. Miraculously, the chapel was not damaged. Today, one can visit the memorial where towers one and two stood.
A short walk from the 9/11 Memorial will take you to Trinity Church and the eternal resting place of Alexander Hamilton and his wife, Eliza. Trinity Church held its first service in 1698, but the current Gothic Revival building dates to 1846.
Upper Manhattan
A trip uptown will take you to Central Park and one of the largest art museums in the world—the Metropolitan Museum of Art. This vast collection of over two million works of art is easily my favorite in the United States. With so much to see, one can get overwhelmed so I advise coming with a plan of which pieces are “can’t miss” for you. I consult the museum’s map ahead of time and route out a manageable path that will let me sate my appetite for art without making me too full. With collections spanning from ancient times to modern, the art inside tells great tales of human history. My favorites are artifacts from ancient Greece, Rome, Egypt, and the Mesopotamia. I also love the Renaissance works, Impressionist paintings, and armor.
There are so many things to do in NYC that this photo essay just takes a nibble out of the Big Apple. In warmer weather, I roam all over Manhattan, as well as Liberty and Ellis Islands. I hope you enjoyed this blog of New York’s photographic past and present. Happy travels!
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Amy French, Ph.D., is the voice behind Roaming Historian. A professional historian and seasoned traveler, she shares stories that blend history and travel to give readers a deeper understanding of the places they explore.
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