{"id":17410,"date":"2025-06-18T12:55:19","date_gmt":"2025-06-18T12:55:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newyorktour1.com\/blog\/?p=17410"},"modified":"2025-06-18T13:37:01","modified_gmt":"2025-06-18T13:37:01","slug":"the-story-behind-battery-park","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.exp1.com\/blog\/the-story-behind-battery-park\/","title":{"rendered":"What To Do at Battery Park in New York (And How It Got Here)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Located at the southernmost point of Manhattan, where New York City was born, Battery Park\u2019s evolution has mirrored the history of the city itself. Its waterfront location made it a pivotal place for trade, conquest and defense, immigration, recreation, entertainment, transportation, and tourism for hundreds of years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This ultimate guide to the Battery covers the fascinating history of Battery Park, including how it got its name, as well as a laundry list of the many things to see and do there. Sure, we New Yorkers love Central Park<\/a>, but for park fun in Lower Manhattan, you can\u2019t beat the Battery.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Is it \u2018Battery Park\u2019 or \u2018the Battery\u2019?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Battery<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s both. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Often referred to as Battery Park by locals and visitors alike, the site\u2019s official name became the Battery in 2015 \u2014 a return to its historical colonial moniker \u2014 as part of a decades-long (and still ongoing) effort to reinvent and revitalize the park and historic site while also protecting it for future generations against the effects of climate change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The park today remains a very busy hub of recreation, tourism, and transportation, with thousands of people passing through the Battery every day. Many come and go on the Staten Island Ferry. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\t

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tThe global award-winning tour of New York\u2019s two most iconic landmarks<\/span>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island Tour<\/p>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tLearn More\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/section>\n\n\n\n\n

Visitors come to embark on our Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island Tour<\/a> \u2014 you\u2019ll find the starting point of the tour in front of historic Castle Clinton, located in the heart of the park. Children experience the thrills of the SeaGlass Carousel and other play areas. And many more people explore the tree-lined paths and numerous monuments. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Battery Park history<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Whitehall<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Before the Battery became what it is today, the area underwent many transformations. It started as water \u2014 the island of Manhattan actually ended at what is now the northern edge of the park.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But we\u2019ll come back to this in a minute. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the meantime, this is a very abbreviated version of the beats in Lower Manhattan\u2019s history as it went from being the hunting and fishing grounds of the Lenape, the indigenous people of the area, and then a growing colony of European settlers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Historic
Credit: Library of Congress<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

In 1626, the Dutch built Fort Amsterdam on the shores of their settlement of New Amsterdam as protection from attacks from the sea. This was the first of several iterations of a \u201cbattery\u201d \u2014 an artillery encampment \u2014 that would inspire the name of the area going forward. Nearly four decades later, the English took over control of the colony (renaming it New York) and with it the fort.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

More than a century after that, George Washington\u2019s Continental Army occupied the fort during and after the Revolutionary War. Then in 1790, the fort was demolished and the area saw its first transformation into a public promenade. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the early 1800s as tensions with England headed toward war again, the American military created an island about 300 feet offshore for a new fort to house more than two dozen cannons. This fort, called the West Battery, never saw any action during the War of 1812. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

So why is Battery Park called Battery Park? Easy \u2014 it got its name from the artillery encampment housed there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Map
Credit: Library of Congress Geography and Map Division<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

In the next few decades, the fort was renamed twice (Castle Clinton and then Castle Garden), decommissioned, leased to the local government, and transformed into a magnificent performance space. Finally in 1855, the waters around the castle were filled in, adding 25 acres to the tip of Manhattan. This is why Castle Clinton (it eventually reverted to that name) is simply part of the Battery and no longer an island.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the latter half of the 19th century, the castle served as a processing office for about 8 million immigrants until Ellis Island was opened. Later, the building housed the New York Aquarium for more than 40 years. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Verrazzano
Credit: Library of Congress<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Castle Clinton and the Battery underwent decades of decline. Demolition of the castle was only halted after Castle Clinton was declared a national monument. Even so, the area had seen better days. It had become forgotten, decayed, and damaged. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 1986, architect Philip Winslow created a new master plan for Battery Park. Then in the 1990s and 2000s, the Battery underwent a slow but steady transformation guided by the Battery Conservancy, a public-private partnership, and funding from the city, the state, the federal government, and private donors. The entire promenade was rebuilt. The new seawall railing actually incorporated public art \u2014 a series of panels called \u201cThe River that Flows Two Ways\u201d by artist Wopo Holup.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After Lower Manhattan, including the Battery, suffered catastrophic damage from Superstorm Sandy in 2012, parts of the park and infrastructure underwent repairs (including the rebuilding of a subway station). A long-term coastal resiliency project<\/a> involving the park and nearby areas is still underway. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What to do at the Battery<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Sunset
People watching the sunset on the quay of Battery Park<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Despite the work still needing to be done, today\u2019s Battery nonetheless is a beautifully reimagined public space offering so much to do.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here are some ideas to get you started.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Enjoy the views<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

On a clear day, the waterfront promenade offers expansive vistas of Upper New York Bay, albeit from a distance, including the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, Governors Island, Jersey City, and more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Visit the Statue of Liberty with a pro<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

You can get much closer to Lady Liberty by booking one of our Statue of Liberty tours<\/a>, which meets at Castle Clinton. Our tour guides do much more than recite facts \u2014 they expertly tell the stories of the challenges of the statue\u2019s journey from France and its construction in New York Bay as well as the rich cultural history of immigration through Ellis Island.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n\t

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tThe quickest and easiest way to experience the Statue of Liberty<\/span>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

Statue of Liberty Express Tour<\/p>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tLearn More\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/section>\n\n\n\n\n

Ours has been the best-rated Statue of Liberty tour on Tripadvisor for many years. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Go inside the historic fort<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\"Castle<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The National Park Service manages Castle Clinton National Monument<\/a>, which has free exhibits and talks by park rangers. You can also browse the souvenirs at the gift shop.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ride a carousel of steel and glass<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\"SeaGlass<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Climb into one of the SeaGlass Carousel<\/a>\u2019s 30 stunning fish pods for this \u201cimmersive experience of movement, music, and light.\u201d The ride\u2019s theme is a nod to Castle Clinton\u2019s past as New York\u2019s first aquarium. Children find the ride delightful and many adults call it romantic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Appreciate the memorials and monuments <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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\"The
Credit: U.S. Coast Guard<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The Battery is home to more than 20 monuments<\/a> commemorating significant events and historical figures. Here are some you shouldn\u2019t miss:<\/p>\n\n\n\n