While cruising along the Hudson on one of our luxurious cruises or private charters, you’ll get an up-close view of some of the spectacular landmarks that have shaped New York City. On any given excursion, the landmarks we will pass by include Ellis Island, the Statue of Liberty and the Freedom Tower.
Ellis Island was originally the landing for immigrants coming into the United States in the 19th and 20th centuries. In the 62 years that Ellis Island served as an immigration station, approximately 12 million immigrants entered into the U.S. The first immigrant to pass through Ellis Island, 15-year-old Irish girl Annie Moore, arrived on January 1, 1892. Ellis Island is named after Samuel Ellis, a tavern owner who operated the island. Currently, Ellis Island is a museum.
The Statue of Liberty, is a symbol of freedom and democracy; it is one of the most famous landmarks in our country and people from all over the world visit New York to see her. The Statue of Liberty was officially dedicated to the United States on Thursday, October 28, 1886. The Statue of Liberty is 305 ft., 6 in. tall and weighs 225 tons. At the feet of the Statue are broken shackles to represent freedom from oppression and tyranny.
The last landmark is the newest and serves as a symbol of freedom and strength that has helped us to overcome the devastation of 9/11. The Freedom Tower is being built on a 16-acre lot, and serves as a memorial lives lost on 9/11. The Freedom Tower stands in the exact spot where the World Trade Center fell and reaches 1,776 feet tall. The site features the Reflection Absence memorial, which honors the 2,986 lives lost on 9/11. Many of the tower’s features mimic the World Trade Center towers; the observation deck reaches 1,362 feet, the same height as World Trade Center Tower Two, and the glass parapet reaches 1,368 feet, which is the exact height of World Trade Center Tower One.
Whether you’re familiar with the history of these famous attractions or unfamiliar with them, it’s utterly breathtaking to see them in up close and in person. The next time you visit The Big Apple, make sure you find a way to visit them. Cruising by them on a boat or visiting them individually, you are sure to be amazed.
-Laurie Kutscera & Christine Majid
(Sources: Surfnetkids, Stamps of Distinction, NYC Tower and Glass Steel and Stone)