Manhattan Sites Tour➢
In June 2025, I took advantage of a day off to complete the New York City National Park Service units, starting with an early subway ride to Lower Manhattan. I joined the first ranger-led tour of the day at Castle Clinton National Monument. Although I had passed through several times when it served as the security checkpoint for the Statue of Liberty ferry, this was my first true visit to the historic fort itself. From there, I walked north to Trinity Church, exploring the cemetery with the goal of finding Alexander Hamilton’s grave, before revisiting Federal Hall and continuing on to the African Burial Ground National Monument.
From the African Burial Ground, I took the subway uptown to Stonewall National Monument. This was my first visit to the site, and I spent time exploring the new visitor center, including watching the park film. Afterward, I walked through Christopher Park across the street and took photos of the exterior of the Stonewall Inn before heading home, bringing a full and meaningful day of exploring New York City’s National Park Service sites to a close.
Castle Clinton➢
Castle Clinton National Monument preserves a circular sandstone fort that has stood at the southern tip of Manhattan since 1811. Originally constructed as West Battery to defend New York Harbor during a period of growing tensions with Great Britain, the fort never saw combat. Instead, it evolved alongside the city, serving as an entertainment venue, immigration station, and aquarium before being restored to its military appearance and designated a national monument in 1946.
Today, Castle Clinton offers visitors a glimpse into more than two centuries of New York City history. While many people know it as the departure point for ferries to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, the fort’s own story is equally fascinating. Ranger-led tours explore the site’s military origins, its role as the nation’s first immigrant processing center, and its remarkable transformation as Manhattan expanded around it through landfill projects that dramatically altered the shoreline.
The first ranger-led tour of the day attracted only a handful of visitors. The tour was led by a ranger-in-training who did an excellent job explaining the site’s long and varied history. A couple of experienced rangers accompanied the group, adding details and answering questions along the way. The small group size made it easy to hear the presentation and ask questions about the fort’s many transformations over the years.
As we walked through the fort, the ranger highlighted evidence of Castle Clinton’s changing uses. One of the most interesting artifacts was a section of the original wall that was uncovered during restoration work. Historic illustrations helped visitors imagine the fort during two very different periods in its history: first as the grand Castle Garden opera house and later as the New York Aquarium. Outside, I photographed the fort’s sandstone walls and one of the cannons that recall its original military purpose. Together, these features tell the story of a site that continually adapted to meet the needs of a growing city while remaining a recognizable landmark on Manhattan’s waterfront.
Manhattan Sites➢
- Castle Clinton NM
- Trinity Church
- Federal Hall NMEM
- African Burial Ground NM
- Stonewall NM
Location: Battery Park, New York
Designation: National Monument
Date designated/established: August 12, 1946
Date of my visit: June 3, 2025
