Last week, I was very excited to be taking a tour of Lower Manhattan, an area that I am familiar with, but would love to explore some more.

I started my day by taking the ferry from Rockaway to Wall Street, and it was a beautiful day for it. From there the class met by the Staten Island Ferry terminal, and our adventure began.

First we stopped at the shrine of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton, the first and only American-born Saint. I like to carving of the cross on the outside of the building.

From there, it was a short walk to Fraunces Tavern.  I have sat at the bar there a few times, but I have yet to visit the museum upstairs. I love learning about the history behind the location, and I have even heard stories about staff members who refuse to work late shifts alone due to the building being supposedly haunted.

This is the where the Museum of the American Indian is housed, a free museum that I have not yet visited.  I was impressed by the sculptures and architecture of building.
It’s pieces of history like these, the Bowling Green Park and Evacuation Day, that I love learning about.
I have never visited the New York Stock Exchange before our walking tour, it was an impressive piece of work! I would love to take a tour inside one day.

I’ve always enjoyed walking around Trinity Church, but I have never before stepped inside its gates.  I never knew Alexander Hamilton was buried there, and it was interesting to read about the death of his son.  I also never knew that the church was rebuilt three times.


I have walked past the Oculus before, but never inside.  It was really beautiful, and I enjoyed the ample natural light.  I’d like to go back and spend more time inside in the future.

After class this week, I took a walk down to Dumbo to begin my own walking tour and scavenger hunt for 5 items on the given list. I have included photos of the following items on the list:

1. An engineering marvel, the Brooklyn Bridge
2. An old building, the Eagle Warehouse & Storage Company
3. A hotel, Hotel One
4. A work of art, “Here You Are,” an instillation by Oliver Jeffers
5. A sports facility, seen from the Brooklyn Bridge Park, a short walk away

This photo is an example of adaptive reuse. The building seen before the bridge was formerly a paper factory, if I am not mistaken.  This building and those around it, on the waterfront, are now home to office spaces, restaurants, bakeries, and shops.

This photo I took from beneath the Brooklyn Bridge, with the Freedom Tower behind it.  I enjoy the juxtaposition of the Gothic Architecture in the foreground and the modern architecture in the background just across the water.
This photo here is of the Brooklyn Eagle building, that we saw on our walking tour of Dumbo a few weeks ago.  I read a lot about the Brooklyn Eagle is “The Great Bridge,” by David McCullough, but I never knew the building still existed, and that it was right here near school, where I often walk.
Thanks to Professor Dias’s recommendation, I went to check out Hotel One, I walked around the main level.  I am going to go back another day before 4pm so I can have access to the rooftop bar without the $20 cover charge.  The property is really impressive and the concierge and maitre d’hotel were friendly and helpful (they are the ones who told me to come back before 4pm).
This here is the art installation I came across.  The bright colors of the piece created a nice contrast with the stormy skies and the skyscrapers in the background.

This photo I took of the sports facilities along Brooklyn Heights.  From the distance I could see people of all ages playing roller hockey, soccer, and basketball.

Throughout this class I have learned how the neighborhoods have change due to tourism and how they have developed with the help of tourist’s interest in the neighborhood. It has challenged me to think beyond what I see. Throughout this class I have enjoyed our field trip going out to see parts of New York that I have not seen myself or challenge myself to find places that I have visited before.

The last field trip for the class is discovering the Lower Manhattan.  The class get to visit the Fraunces Tavern.  This restaurant is an important landmark because this is the place where General George Washington bid his farewell to his officers on the 4^thof December, 1783.  I went inside to take a glimpse.  I found out that this is not just a restaurant, but it also has a museum on the second floor.

Fraunces Tavern

National Register of Historic Place

Another landmark that we saw on that day was the National Museum of the American Indian.  I will definitely visit this museum soon because I became more interested in museums now.  I want to learn more about the Native Americans since I don’t know a lot of things about them.  Across the museum is where the Bowling Green Fence park can be found.

National Museum of American Indian

Bowling Green Fence

We also get to discover the famous “Charging Bull.”  It was my first time seeing it.  I didn’t get to see the “Fearless girl” though due to the number of tourists taking pictures in the location.

Charging Bull

New York Stock Exchange

Federal Hall

After that, we went to see the New York Stock Exchange building.  On our way there, we get to discover a residential building that has a huge chandelier inside.  I was in awe of how beautiful it was.  We went to the Federal Hall next, which I find very fascinating.  The inside was like a round shape that has a very beautiful circular ceiling.

We head over to the Trinity Church next.  We could not go inside because it was under renovation.  I found out that Alexander Hamilton was buried in the graveyard of the church.  Whenever I come to this area before, I usually just pass by this church, not knowing how significant this place is.

Trinity Church

The last destinations that we went to were the Oculus, World Trade Center, 9/11 memorial, and the waterfront.  I have been to these places a few times in the past, so I am more familiar with it. On my home, I discovered some colorful murals.  I even get to see some of the people painting the walls.

Oculus

Waterfront

Mural

Oculus

Lower Manhattan landmarks

We started our adventure at the Staten Island Ferry Station. The area is beautiful both because is by the water and have a lot of historic places. The street is not like in midtown, all nice in squares, here is different, more European style. This part of the city was firs settled by the Dutch. We walked by Ann Seton’s Shrine who was the first born saint in America which was very fascinating to know.

We walked to visit Francis Tavern, which had sign outside indicating that after the American Revolution in 1783, George Washington had a farewell to his officers on the second floor of this building. Because of its history, the building is a New York City Landmark as well as a National Historical Place. The National Museum of the American Indian is another great attraction in lower Manhattan, where we could see the sculptures outside. These statues show the different continents such as America, Asia, Europe and Africa.

When we reached Bowling Green Park and Fence, our professor pointed out that there was the statue of King George III, but was removed by the Patriots pm 1779 as states on the sign on the fence. Reaching the Wall Street area we saw the Charging bull statue where there were many tourists making a line for pictures, close to it, we also saw the new status of the Fearless girl

We walked by The New York Stock Exchange, which is New York’s financial district. Later we explored the Federal Hall National Memorial, as the museum it had a Greek influence.  This is the place where George Washington took oath as the First President of the United States. Later we visited the Trinity Church. We visited the cemetery where Alexander Hamilton’s funeral was held and where his grave is located.as well as Fulton’s grave.

We finished our adventure by exploring the World Trade Center, the Oculus and Brookfield. The place is beautiful in tits unique design and appearance. The area is very popular and crowded by locals and tourist.

The memorial was very sad and beautiful in the same time, the water and names almost represents for me unlimited tears, but also infinite memory and life. We finished the adventure at Brookfield, which has amazing views by the water, restaurant, bars and many people are enjoying the summer outside. It is a shopping center but I definitely will come back and enjoy amazing views and atmosphere.