History & Evolution
At the time of its European discovery by Italian Giovanni da Verrazzano,
Lenape Native Americans inhabited the region. After this came Henry Hudson
who mapped the area for the very first time. He discovered Manhattan in 1609
and went further up the river, now named as the Hudson River and eventually
to the site where New York State's capital city, Albany, now stands.
In 1664, British took the city renamed it "New York" after the
English Duke of York and Albany. Under the British rule, city of New York
continued to develop and was decidedly split into loyalties during the New
York Campaign, a series of major early battles during the American
Revolutionary War.
After British evacuated New York in 1783, it became the seat of the
government under the Articles of Confederation and then the capital of the
newly formed United States till 1790. Democratic Party political machine
known as Tammany Hall dominated the politics of the city for next eighty
years.
During the Gilded Age, the city faced economic and municipal integration
and was divided into five boroughs in 1898. During the successive years,
country’s transportation system developed with coming of New York City
Subway in 1904.
In 1920s, the city witnessed huge influx of African-Americans migrants as
part of the Great Migration from the Southern American. It was also the time
when the city's skyline transformed by construction of the skyscrapers that
have come to define New York of today.
New York City suffered a lot during the Great Depression, which saw the end
of Tammany Hall’s political dominance. During World War II, New York
City played an important role as a port and a center of finance and
industry. But soon the city emerged from the war with Wall Street leading
America's emergence as the world's dominant economic power.
Recently the city faced a terrorist attack on September 11, 2001 when
nearly 3,000 people were killed in the destruction of the city's tallest
buildings, the World Trade Center.
Site-Seeing
NYC is basically a place for business seekers but one cannot ignore city’s
tourist attractions which are world famous for one or the other reason. From
historic landmarks to Broadway theaters to hundreds of museums, the City has
it all. Besides several attractions everywhere, the city of New York can
also be referred as a best shopping destination of the world.
Statue of Liberty:
The universal symbol of freedom and democracy, this sea green colored
Statue of Liberty was the first sight to be seen by many immigrants that
flocked from Europe to America through sea. On 100th birthday of America’s
Independence and to commemorating the two nations’ friendship and joint
notions of liberty, the statue was gifted in 1886 to the country by the
French Government in 214 pieces. Eventually, the pieces were assembled and
the statue was erected 10 years later.
Designed by Frederic-Auguste, The Statue of Liberty is 465m (151ft) high.
There is also a staircase inside the statue and walk all the way up the 354
steps to the head from where beautiful view of the city can be seen. But due
to security reasons, this way has been closed since 9/11.
Location: Liberty Island, New York Harbor
Empire State Building:
Symbol of New York City itself and once again the city’s tallest
structure, the Empire State Building stands 381 meter (1253 ft) high.
Completed in 1931, the building remains one of the most impressive
engineering feats and fastest rising skyscraper ever built. Constructed in
only 1 year and 45 days, the building has 73 elevators. At the time it was
built, the Empire State Building broke all records and was considered as
'the 8th world wonder'.
The Building glows every night with multi-colored floodlights to
commemorate events of significance in the country. The observation decks on
the 86th and 102nd floors offering magnificent views of the city are the
major tourist attractions of the building.
Location: Fifth Avenue
Central Park:
Officially opened in 1873 and providing an essential 'green lung' to the
concrete jungle that the New York City is, the Central Park is 843 acres
large located in the center of Manhattan.
Designed by Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux, this huge park boasts
several lakes, theaters, ice rinks, fountains, tennis courts, baseball
fields, many playgrounds, Zoo and a Metropolitan museum of Art. Completed in
more than 15 years, the Park soon became a popular place for all New
Yorkers, attracting millions of visitors each year. On weekends it becomes
city's party center with families playing in the snow or the sun, depending
on the season.
Location: Manhattan
Times Square:
The most bustling square of New York, Times Square is known for its many
Broadway theatres, cinemas and super sign boards. Formerly known as Longacre
square, it got its present name from the Times (New York Times newspaper)
Tower which was built in 1904. Gigantic billboards and all the hustle bustle
of New York’s social scene makes the square one of those places that
make New York a city that never sleeps.
After the Great Depression many businesses were closed down and the place
became breeding ground for strip teasers and peep shows. But soon the Walt
Disney Company opened a Disney store on Times Square, which again made the
place family-friendly business area, leading to a so-called
'Disneyfication'.
Location: 6th & 9th Avenue
Ground Zero - World Trade Center Site:
The site that emerged from the rubble of the twin towers of World Trade
Center on 9/11, 2001 has been names the ‘Ground Zero’ in the
memory of 3,000 people who lost their lives on the day.
This six-hectare (16-acre) work site is the place where at one time the
tallest buildings of New York were used to stand. Millions now come at the
place to pay their tribute at the site. A World Trade Center Memorial
featuring, a landscaped civic plaza with two massive voids aligned with the
footprints where the twin towers once stood, is scheduled to open on 11
September 2009.
Location: Lower Manhattan
United States Of America,