Custom Walk in New York, New York by kmharless88_a825d created on 2025-09-08
Guide Location: USA » New York
Guide Type: Custom Walk
# of Sights: 11
Tour Duration: 12 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 32 Km or 19.9 Miles
Share Key: BRJ76
Guide Type: Custom Walk
# of Sights: 11
Tour Duration: 12 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 32 Km or 19.9 Miles
Share Key: BRJ76
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Step 1. Download the app "911±¬ÁÏÍø: Walks in 1K+ Cities" on Apple App Store or Google Play Store.
Step 2. In the 911±¬ÁÏÍø app, download(or launch) the guide "New York Map and Walking Tours".
Step 3. Tap the menu button located at upper right corner of the "Walks" screen and select "Retrieve custom walk". Enter the share key: BRJ76
1) New York Public Library (must see)
Also known as the Stephan A. Schwartzman Building, the Main Branch of 42nd Street Library is an embodiment of the New York Public Library system. It is located on Fifth Avenue between 40th and 42nd Streets. It shares the block with Bryant Park. The structure is a Beaux-Arts gem of a building.
The Astor and Lenox Libraries were merged in 1895. An imposing main branch was needed to house the newly formed New York Public Library. The perfect site for the new building was under the old obsolete Croton Distributing Reservoir. The architectural firm of Carrere and Hastings was selected to design and build the new library.
On May 24, 1911, the library opened to the public. The first volume borrowed from the library's collection was "Ethical Ideas of Our Time: a study of Nietzsche and Lev Tolstoy" by Russian philosopher and writer Nikolai Grot. During the first week of its operation, the library received 250,000 visitors and patrons.
The exterior of the library building is of Vermont marble and brick. Windows, doors, and fixtures are bronze. Pediments installed above the central entrance hold sculptures of "Life," "Painting," and "Sculpture." A balcony wraps the Fifth Avenue elevation.
At the main entrance, a grand staircase leads to a portico with six Corinthian columns and three archways. Two lions of Tennessee marble guard the staircase on either side.
The Astor and Lenox Libraries were merged in 1895. An imposing main branch was needed to house the newly formed New York Public Library. The perfect site for the new building was under the old obsolete Croton Distributing Reservoir. The architectural firm of Carrere and Hastings was selected to design and build the new library.
On May 24, 1911, the library opened to the public. The first volume borrowed from the library's collection was "Ethical Ideas of Our Time: a study of Nietzsche and Lev Tolstoy" by Russian philosopher and writer Nikolai Grot. During the first week of its operation, the library received 250,000 visitors and patrons.
The exterior of the library building is of Vermont marble and brick. Windows, doors, and fixtures are bronze. Pediments installed above the central entrance hold sculptures of "Life," "Painting," and "Sculpture." A balcony wraps the Fifth Avenue elevation.
At the main entrance, a grand staircase leads to a portico with six Corinthian columns and three archways. Two lions of Tennessee marble guard the staircase on either side.
2) St. Patrick's Cathedral (must see)
There are two Saint Patrick's Cathedrals in New York City. The construction of New Saint Patrick's Cathedral was started in 1858 to accommodate the growing Archdiocese of New York and to replace Saint Patrick's Old Cathedral, built in 1815. New Saint Patrick's is the enormous Gothic Revival edifice erected between 50th and 51st Streets on Madison Avenue in Manhattan. It is the seat of the Archbishop of New York. Located directly across from Rockefeller Center, it was designed by architect James Renwick, Jr., and inaugurated in 1879.
The Midtown Cathedral is triumphantly vertical and Gothic. It is clad in marble. It has dozens of stained glass windows encased in pointed arches topped by triangular pediments. It is 332 feet long and the transepts are 174 feet wide. Soaring spires flank the enormous bronze entrance doors. The spires reach a height of 330 feet.
Inside is a nave with a center aisle and two side aisles. Thirty-two marble columns separate the center and side aisles. Above the center aisle are groin vaults supported by ribs and bosses. There are 12 chapels in the side aisles. The interior is designed for a seating capacity of 2,400. There are 300 wooden pews.
The high altar is a replacement. The original was moved to Fordham University Church in the Bronx. The current altar is made of grey-white Italian marble covered with a bronze canopy or baldachin. There is no tabernacle or altar screen. The baldachin is topped by a statue of Christ the King flanked by angels and pinnacles.
The New Saint Patrick's Cathedral is a New York City designated landmark and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
The Midtown Cathedral is triumphantly vertical and Gothic. It is clad in marble. It has dozens of stained glass windows encased in pointed arches topped by triangular pediments. It is 332 feet long and the transepts are 174 feet wide. Soaring spires flank the enormous bronze entrance doors. The spires reach a height of 330 feet.
Inside is a nave with a center aisle and two side aisles. Thirty-two marble columns separate the center and side aisles. Above the center aisle are groin vaults supported by ribs and bosses. There are 12 chapels in the side aisles. The interior is designed for a seating capacity of 2,400. There are 300 wooden pews.
The high altar is a replacement. The original was moved to Fordham University Church in the Bronx. The current altar is made of grey-white Italian marble covered with a bronze canopy or baldachin. There is no tabernacle or altar screen. The baldachin is topped by a statue of Christ the King flanked by angels and pinnacles.
The New Saint Patrick's Cathedral is a New York City designated landmark and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
3) Rockefeller Center (must see)
In 1801, New York physician David Hosack bought 22 acres of open land from the city with an aim to establish the country's first botanical garden, the Elgin Botanic Garden. The latter had lasted only until 1811, for the lack of funds, following which the territory was taken over by Columbia University, in 1823.
In 1926, the property changed hands again when the Metropolitan Opera sought location for its new home; so the University leased the land to the theater's benefactor, John D. Rockefeller, Jr. After the stock market crashed, in 1929, the Met Opera move was canceled, and Rockefeller decided to build a mass media complex instead.
The ensued talks between Radio Corporation of America, National Broadcasting Company, and Radio-Keith-Orpheum Radio resulted in an agreement, in 1930, to build on the site an entertainment complex. Pursuant to this agreement, 228 buildings were demolished and 4,000 tenants relocated. Early on, the project was called "Radio City," "Rockefeller City," or "Metropolitan Square."
Presently, Rockefeller Center represents a compound of two complexes (comprising 14 Art Deco-style buildings), one solitary edifice on 51st Street (added in 1947), and four towers on the west side of Sixth Avenue. The venue covers all of Doctor Hosack's 22 acres, and, whilst there's no botanicals on the ground, it does have some rooftop gardens.
Radio City Music Hall occupies the western part of the Center. The Lower Plaza, at the heart of the complex, lends a sense of privacy, being sunken below street level. Architect Ieoh Ming Pei praised it as "the most successful open space in the United States, perhaps in the world." Most of the Plaza's outdoor area is taken up by an ice rink, installed in 1936.
In addition to the spectacular, unobstructed views of the NYC skyline opening from the top of the Rock’s three levels of indoor and outdoor observation decks, the Center offers a shopping experience like no other. The abundant choice of popular local brands, international names, and up-and-coming designers makes it one of the best shopping destinations in Midtown Manhattan. This is where you come to realize that shopping is as much about the place as it is about what you buy.
In 1926, the property changed hands again when the Metropolitan Opera sought location for its new home; so the University leased the land to the theater's benefactor, John D. Rockefeller, Jr. After the stock market crashed, in 1929, the Met Opera move was canceled, and Rockefeller decided to build a mass media complex instead.
The ensued talks between Radio Corporation of America, National Broadcasting Company, and Radio-Keith-Orpheum Radio resulted in an agreement, in 1930, to build on the site an entertainment complex. Pursuant to this agreement, 228 buildings were demolished and 4,000 tenants relocated. Early on, the project was called "Radio City," "Rockefeller City," or "Metropolitan Square."
Presently, Rockefeller Center represents a compound of two complexes (comprising 14 Art Deco-style buildings), one solitary edifice on 51st Street (added in 1947), and four towers on the west side of Sixth Avenue. The venue covers all of Doctor Hosack's 22 acres, and, whilst there's no botanicals on the ground, it does have some rooftop gardens.
Radio City Music Hall occupies the western part of the Center. The Lower Plaza, at the heart of the complex, lends a sense of privacy, being sunken below street level. Architect Ieoh Ming Pei praised it as "the most successful open space in the United States, perhaps in the world." Most of the Plaza's outdoor area is taken up by an ice rink, installed in 1936.
In addition to the spectacular, unobstructed views of the NYC skyline opening from the top of the Rock’s three levels of indoor and outdoor observation decks, the Center offers a shopping experience like no other. The abundant choice of popular local brands, international names, and up-and-coming designers makes it one of the best shopping destinations in Midtown Manhattan. This is where you come to realize that shopping is as much about the place as it is about what you buy.
4) Broadway (must see)
Broadway, known as the Wickquasgeck Trail in the New Amsterdam time, was snaked along the length of Manhattan Island. The trail became the main road through the island. Actual Broadway is a bit longer than the old trail it replaced. The street starts at Bowling Green in the southern tip of Manhattan and wends its way through the Bronx, and through Westchester County, all the way up to Sleepy Hollow. It is the oldest thoroughfare in the city.
When the Dutch took over Manhattan, they widened the trail to road size. They called it "Gentlemen's Way" or "Heeren Weigh" in Dutch. When the British arrived, they noticed how wide the main street was, and called it Broadway Street.
By 1907 a 30-block section of Broadway between Times Square and Sherman Square at 72nd Street was a part of Manhattan, referred to as "Automobile Row." The motorcar had arrived. Automobile dealerships, showrooms, parts stores, and garages, packed both sides of the street. In time Broadway became mostly a one-way traffic lane in Manhattan.
In the current century, Broadway has been made less accommodating to cars and more pedestrian friendly. Traffic lanes at strategic places have been turned into public plazas and mini-parks. Bicycle lanes have been established between 42nd Street and Union Square.
Since 2009, parts of Broadway in Times Square, Duffy Square, and Herald Square have been closed to automotive traffic. Broadway has been narrowed around Madison Square and Union Square, permitting pedestrian plazas to exist at the roadside.
Lower Broadway at Bowling Green and City Hall Park is the customary venue for the city's famous "ticker tape" parades, when large amounts of shredded paper are thrown from nearby office buildings into the parade route, creating a celebratory effect. It has been referred to as the "Canyon of Heroes." Paper showers still are dropped from skyscrapers lining the route, but ticker tape is long a thing of the past. Toilet rolls have been used, but the effect is not so grand.
"The Great White Way" is about the section of Broadway in Midtown Manhattan, home to the Theatre District. The district stretches between 42nd Street and 53rd Street, including Times Square. Shep Friedman, a reporter for the New York Morning Telegraph in 1901, was the first to use the phrase "Great White Way" about Broadway.
Everything and anything happens on Broadway. From Bowling Green to Sleepy Hollow, the stories, the neighborhoods, and the hits just keep on coming.
When the Dutch took over Manhattan, they widened the trail to road size. They called it "Gentlemen's Way" or "Heeren Weigh" in Dutch. When the British arrived, they noticed how wide the main street was, and called it Broadway Street.
By 1907 a 30-block section of Broadway between Times Square and Sherman Square at 72nd Street was a part of Manhattan, referred to as "Automobile Row." The motorcar had arrived. Automobile dealerships, showrooms, parts stores, and garages, packed both sides of the street. In time Broadway became mostly a one-way traffic lane in Manhattan.
In the current century, Broadway has been made less accommodating to cars and more pedestrian friendly. Traffic lanes at strategic places have been turned into public plazas and mini-parks. Bicycle lanes have been established between 42nd Street and Union Square.
Since 2009, parts of Broadway in Times Square, Duffy Square, and Herald Square have been closed to automotive traffic. Broadway has been narrowed around Madison Square and Union Square, permitting pedestrian plazas to exist at the roadside.
Lower Broadway at Bowling Green and City Hall Park is the customary venue for the city's famous "ticker tape" parades, when large amounts of shredded paper are thrown from nearby office buildings into the parade route, creating a celebratory effect. It has been referred to as the "Canyon of Heroes." Paper showers still are dropped from skyscrapers lining the route, but ticker tape is long a thing of the past. Toilet rolls have been used, but the effect is not so grand.
"The Great White Way" is about the section of Broadway in Midtown Manhattan, home to the Theatre District. The district stretches between 42nd Street and 53rd Street, including Times Square. Shep Friedman, a reporter for the New York Morning Telegraph in 1901, was the first to use the phrase "Great White Way" about Broadway.
Everything and anything happens on Broadway. From Bowling Green to Sleepy Hollow, the stories, the neighborhoods, and the hits just keep on coming.
5) Times Square (must see)
Once a native pathway running the length of the Island of Manhattan, Broadway, unlike other streets in NYC, was not laid out on a grid. Hence, it intersects with Seventh Avenue and 42nd Street, forming two triangular shapes, like a bow tie. Times Square is the name of the southern triangle, while the northern triangle is called Duffy Square, after Father Francis P. Duffy of the 69th Infantry Regiment of World War I.
The section of Broadway between 41st and 53rd Streets, clustered around Times Square, is also often referred to as the Great White Way. The nickname comes from the many lit-up billboards, posters, and marquees that promote plays and musicals in Theater District. This frenetic pedestrian area is the heart of the city's entertainment industry, and it draws annually up to 50 million visitors (or 330,000 souls per day), who come here by subway or simply walking, while looking for something extraordinary.
Times Square was known as Longacre Square until 1904, when Adolph S. Ochs, the owner and publisher of The New York Times, moved his headquarters into the newly erected Times Building, currently One Times Square. Within a decade, the New York Times outgrew its space and moved offices again, but not before starting a tradition of the annual New Year's Eve Ball Drop. The tradition began on December 31, 1907, and continues to date, attracting over a million visitors every year.
The square has many other attractions like ABC's Times Square Studios, The Bubba Gump Shrimp Company (Seafood), and Planet Hollywood, to mention but a few. The illuminated signs in Times Square rival those of Las Vegas, and, according to their size, are called either "spectaculars" or "jumbotrons."
Among these are quite a few neon-lit signboards of retail establishments like Gap, Old Navy, Forever 21, Levi’s, Disney Store, the Hershey’s and M&M, that make up the Times Square shopping scene. This commercial hub in the center of Midtown Manhattan is also ideal for scooping up a souvenir to commemorate your stay in NYC.
The section of Broadway between 41st and 53rd Streets, clustered around Times Square, is also often referred to as the Great White Way. The nickname comes from the many lit-up billboards, posters, and marquees that promote plays and musicals in Theater District. This frenetic pedestrian area is the heart of the city's entertainment industry, and it draws annually up to 50 million visitors (or 330,000 souls per day), who come here by subway or simply walking, while looking for something extraordinary.
Times Square was known as Longacre Square until 1904, when Adolph S. Ochs, the owner and publisher of The New York Times, moved his headquarters into the newly erected Times Building, currently One Times Square. Within a decade, the New York Times outgrew its space and moved offices again, but not before starting a tradition of the annual New Year's Eve Ball Drop. The tradition began on December 31, 1907, and continues to date, attracting over a million visitors every year.
The square has many other attractions like ABC's Times Square Studios, The Bubba Gump Shrimp Company (Seafood), and Planet Hollywood, to mention but a few. The illuminated signs in Times Square rival those of Las Vegas, and, according to their size, are called either "spectaculars" or "jumbotrons."
Among these are quite a few neon-lit signboards of retail establishments like Gap, Old Navy, Forever 21, Levi’s, Disney Store, the Hershey’s and M&M, that make up the Times Square shopping scene. This commercial hub in the center of Midtown Manhattan is also ideal for scooping up a souvenir to commemorate your stay in NYC.
6) Statue of Liberty (must see)
In modern times, few are aware that the world-renowned Statue of Liberty in New York Harbor bears the full title of "Liberty Enlightening the World" (or "La Liberté éclairant le monde" in French). The reason for its French designation lies in the fact that this colossal copper figure was a gift from France.
Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi, the French sculptor, created the statue, drawing inspiration from the words of his compatriot, Édouard René de Laboulaye, a law professor and politician who believed that a monument celebrating American independence should be a joint endeavor between the French and American people. True to this vision, France financed the statue while the United States provided the site and constructed the pedestal.
Every element of the statue was crafted in France. The metal framework, in particular, was fashioned by Gustave Eiffel, renowned for his iconic creation, the Eiffel Tower in Paris (which was completed three years later in 1889). The statue's components were shipped in crates across the Atlantic and assembled atop the finished pedestal on what was then known as Bedloe's Island (now Liberty Island). Bartholdi deliberately chose this location, as he envisioned that passing vessels would sail by, and passengers, particularly those visiting the U.S. for the first time, would perceive the statue as a welcoming symbol.
On October 28, 1886, the statue was dedicated in a ceremony that coincided with the centennial anniversary of the signing of the U.S. Declaration of Independence. President Grover Cleveland presided over the momentous occasion.
The robed female figure represents Libertas, the Roman goddess of freedom. She holds a torch aloft in one hand and carries a tabula ansata, a tablet evoking the concept of law, inscribed with the date of the U.S. Declaration of Independence, July 4, 1776, in the other. At her feet lie a broken shackle and a chain, symbolizing the nation's abolition of slavery.
Popular accounts, though unverified, claim that the sculptor modeled the woman's face after his own mother, Charlotte Beysser Bartholdi. He intentionally designed the figure with a strong, uncomplicated silhouette, which would be accentuated by its prominent position in the harbor, allowing viewers sailing toward Manhattan to perceive the statue from varying perspectives.
Presently, visitors can explore the interior of the statue through a glass ceiling, enhanced lighting, and a surrounding video system. They are free to roam Liberty Island at their leisure, appreciating the serene surroundings, visiting the museum, and perusing nearby gift shops.
Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi, the French sculptor, created the statue, drawing inspiration from the words of his compatriot, Édouard René de Laboulaye, a law professor and politician who believed that a monument celebrating American independence should be a joint endeavor between the French and American people. True to this vision, France financed the statue while the United States provided the site and constructed the pedestal.
Every element of the statue was crafted in France. The metal framework, in particular, was fashioned by Gustave Eiffel, renowned for his iconic creation, the Eiffel Tower in Paris (which was completed three years later in 1889). The statue's components were shipped in crates across the Atlantic and assembled atop the finished pedestal on what was then known as Bedloe's Island (now Liberty Island). Bartholdi deliberately chose this location, as he envisioned that passing vessels would sail by, and passengers, particularly those visiting the U.S. for the first time, would perceive the statue as a welcoming symbol.
On October 28, 1886, the statue was dedicated in a ceremony that coincided with the centennial anniversary of the signing of the U.S. Declaration of Independence. President Grover Cleveland presided over the momentous occasion.
The robed female figure represents Libertas, the Roman goddess of freedom. She holds a torch aloft in one hand and carries a tabula ansata, a tablet evoking the concept of law, inscribed with the date of the U.S. Declaration of Independence, July 4, 1776, in the other. At her feet lie a broken shackle and a chain, symbolizing the nation's abolition of slavery.
Popular accounts, though unverified, claim that the sculptor modeled the woman's face after his own mother, Charlotte Beysser Bartholdi. He intentionally designed the figure with a strong, uncomplicated silhouette, which would be accentuated by its prominent position in the harbor, allowing viewers sailing toward Manhattan to perceive the statue from varying perspectives.
Presently, visitors can explore the interior of the statue through a glass ceiling, enhanced lighting, and a surrounding video system. They are free to roam Liberty Island at their leisure, appreciating the serene surroundings, visiting the museum, and perusing nearby gift shops.
7) National September 11 Memorial & Museum (must see)
September 11, 2001, Tuesday morning, 7 am. Flights were bound from New York to points west. By 8:45 am an American Airlines Boeing 767 slammed into the north tower of the World Trade Center. Less than 20 minutes later, another 767 hit the south tower. The Twin Towers collapsed in flames and 2,977 people died. This day would never be forgotten.
The National September 11 Memorial & Museum is a memorial and museum in New York City commemorating the September 11, 2001, and the 1993 World Trade Center bombing attacks. By November 2003, the memorial design project had been awarded to architect Michael Arad and landscape architect Peter Walker. Their memorial is called "Reflecting Absence." It is a forest of white oak trees surrounding two recessed pools formed by the footprints of the Twin Towers.
The park is level with the street. The names of victims who died from the attacks, including the 1993 bombing, are inscribed on parapets around the waterfalls. The waterfalls are intended to mute outside noises and create a meditative atmosphere at the site.
A callery pear tree that survived, called the "Survivor Tree," was replanted at the World Trade Center. It is thriving. Six other "survivor" pear trees and linden trees have been planted at other sites.
The "Memorial Glade" is a path that follows a temporary ramp used by first responders. It has six enormous stones that jut up through the ground as if violently pushed. The stones simply "strength and resistance."
The September 11 Museum at the site opened in May 2014. It has a collection of over 40,000 images, 14,000 artifacts, and about 3,500 recordings, including 500 hours of videos. There are steel items from the towers, such as the "Last Column." The museum is designed by the architectural firm Davis Brody Bond. It is 70 feet underground, accessible through a pavilion.
The pavilion follows a deconstructivist design, resembling collapsed buildings. Two "tridents" from the towers are inside. One of the museum walls is the old "slurry" wall holding back the Hudson River. The bodies of 1,115 victims were moved to a bedrock crypt space as part of the museum.
The National September 11 Memorial & Museum is a memorial and museum in New York City commemorating the September 11, 2001, and the 1993 World Trade Center bombing attacks. By November 2003, the memorial design project had been awarded to architect Michael Arad and landscape architect Peter Walker. Their memorial is called "Reflecting Absence." It is a forest of white oak trees surrounding two recessed pools formed by the footprints of the Twin Towers.
The park is level with the street. The names of victims who died from the attacks, including the 1993 bombing, are inscribed on parapets around the waterfalls. The waterfalls are intended to mute outside noises and create a meditative atmosphere at the site.
A callery pear tree that survived, called the "Survivor Tree," was replanted at the World Trade Center. It is thriving. Six other "survivor" pear trees and linden trees have been planted at other sites.
The "Memorial Glade" is a path that follows a temporary ramp used by first responders. It has six enormous stones that jut up through the ground as if violently pushed. The stones simply "strength and resistance."
The September 11 Museum at the site opened in May 2014. It has a collection of over 40,000 images, 14,000 artifacts, and about 3,500 recordings, including 500 hours of videos. There are steel items from the towers, such as the "Last Column." The museum is designed by the architectural firm Davis Brody Bond. It is 70 feet underground, accessible through a pavilion.
The pavilion follows a deconstructivist design, resembling collapsed buildings. Two "tridents" from the towers are inside. One of the museum walls is the old "slurry" wall holding back the Hudson River. The bodies of 1,115 victims were moved to a bedrock crypt space as part of the museum.
8) Brooklyn Bridge (must see)
The Brooklyn Bridge is a suspension bridge crossing the East River from Brooklyn to Manhattan in New York City. Since its construction, the bridge has become an icon of New York City, an outstanding architectural effort that is still admired across the world. The Brooklyn Bridge was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1964 and a National Historic Civil Engineering Landmark in 1972.
There had been proposals for a bridge connecting Brooklyn to Manhattan as early as the beginning of the 19th century. The Brooklyn Bridge was designed by civil engineer John Augustus Roebling. His son, Washington Roebling, was the chief engineer of the project. Construction began in 1869 and was completed in 1883. The bridge’s opening day, May 24, 1883, was marked by much celebration and was attended by the President of the United States Chester Alan Arthur.
The bridge is an early steel-wire suspension bridge. It has a cable-stayed suspension design fitted with vertical and diagonal suspender cables. Its huge stone towers have Neo-Gothic pointed arches. Clearance for shipping on the river is provided by viaducts with long approaches that raise the bridge well above the surface.
The main span between towers is almost 2,000 feet long. The bridge stretches and contracts up to 16 inches with temperature changes. Navigation clearance is 127 feet above high water. The spans are held up by six trusses parallel to the roadway. The trusses are carried by suspender ropes hanging from the four main cables.
A distinctive feature of the Brooklyn Bridge is an elevated promenade 18 feet above the automobile lanes. The promenade has a white line down the middle to separate cyclists from walkers. A stroll across the elevated pedestrian walkway provides a true New York City experience.
There had been proposals for a bridge connecting Brooklyn to Manhattan as early as the beginning of the 19th century. The Brooklyn Bridge was designed by civil engineer John Augustus Roebling. His son, Washington Roebling, was the chief engineer of the project. Construction began in 1869 and was completed in 1883. The bridge’s opening day, May 24, 1883, was marked by much celebration and was attended by the President of the United States Chester Alan Arthur.
The bridge is an early steel-wire suspension bridge. It has a cable-stayed suspension design fitted with vertical and diagonal suspender cables. Its huge stone towers have Neo-Gothic pointed arches. Clearance for shipping on the river is provided by viaducts with long approaches that raise the bridge well above the surface.
The main span between towers is almost 2,000 feet long. The bridge stretches and contracts up to 16 inches with temperature changes. Navigation clearance is 127 feet above high water. The spans are held up by six trusses parallel to the roadway. The trusses are carried by suspender ropes hanging from the four main cables.
A distinctive feature of the Brooklyn Bridge is an elevated promenade 18 feet above the automobile lanes. The promenade has a white line down the middle to separate cyclists from walkers. A stroll across the elevated pedestrian walkway provides a true New York City experience.
9) Chelsea Market (must see)
The Chelsea Market stands as a remarkable testament to both redevelopment and preservation, as it has revitalized a former Nabisco factory (where the iconic Oreo cookie was originally crafted), into a bustling shopping destination, appealing to both culinary enthusiasts and fashion aficionados. With over two dozen food vendors to choose from, foodies can revel in a myriad of delectable options. Experience the fusion of Korean flavors with ramen at MOKBAR, savor delectable crepes at BAR SUZETTE, relish in Cambodian sandwiches at NUM PANG, or indulge in piping hot mini-doughnuts at DOUGHNUTTERY. For a more indulgent treat, savor the impeccable seafood and raw bar at CULL & PISTOL, or enjoy upscale American comfort food at Friedman's Lunch.
Those seeking non-food delights may peruse the curated collection of Moroccan art and design at IMPORTS FROM MARRAKESH, explore the latest literary gems at POSMAN BOOKS, find a fashionable outfit at ANTHROPOLOGIE, or browse the expertly-staffed CHELSEA WINE VAULT for a bottle of fine wine. At the Tenth Ave entrance, you'll discover ARTISTS AND FLEAS, a permanent market showcasing the creations of local designers and craftspeople. This vibrant marketplace is the perfect spot to uncover a unique wallet, trendy sunglasses, or a striking statement piece of jewelry.
Those seeking non-food delights may peruse the curated collection of Moroccan art and design at IMPORTS FROM MARRAKESH, explore the latest literary gems at POSMAN BOOKS, find a fashionable outfit at ANTHROPOLOGIE, or browse the expertly-staffed CHELSEA WINE VAULT for a bottle of fine wine. At the Tenth Ave entrance, you'll discover ARTISTS AND FLEAS, a permanent market showcasing the creations of local designers and craftspeople. This vibrant marketplace is the perfect spot to uncover a unique wallet, trendy sunglasses, or a striking statement piece of jewelry.
10) Empire State Building (must see)
The king of Art Deco skyscrapers, the 102-story Empire State Building soars to 1,454 feet above the sidewalks of Manhattan. Once the tallest building in the world, it is now the seventh-tallest in New York, ninth in the USA, and 54th in the world. It is still the sixth-tallest freestanding edifice in the Americas.
The name "Empire State" is the nickname of the State of New York. The design of the building was created by the architectural firm Shrive, Lamb & Harmon. Construction started in 1930 and finished in 1931. The skyscraper stands on the site of the old Waldorf-Astoria Hotel, built in 1893. The builders of the Empire State determined it should be the highest in the world.
The Empire State sits in Midtown South on the west side of Fifth Avenue between 34th and 35th Streets. The 80th, 86th, and 102nd floors have observatories with a commanding 360-degree view of just about everything. The Empire State Building is a cultural icon. It has been featured in more than 250 television series and films since the film King Kong was broadcast in 1933.
The facade is made of Indiana limestone and granite. The decorations on the exterior are mainly geometric, without narrative. The metal doors of the main entrance are flanked by molded piers topped with streamlined eagles and a transom with the golden letters of its name.
The Empire State Building was designated a city landmark by the New York City landmarks Preservation Commission in 1980 and was added to the list of National Historic Landmarks in 1986.
The name "Empire State" is the nickname of the State of New York. The design of the building was created by the architectural firm Shrive, Lamb & Harmon. Construction started in 1930 and finished in 1931. The skyscraper stands on the site of the old Waldorf-Astoria Hotel, built in 1893. The builders of the Empire State determined it should be the highest in the world.
The Empire State sits in Midtown South on the west side of Fifth Avenue between 34th and 35th Streets. The 80th, 86th, and 102nd floors have observatories with a commanding 360-degree view of just about everything. The Empire State Building is a cultural icon. It has been featured in more than 250 television series and films since the film King Kong was broadcast in 1933.
The facade is made of Indiana limestone and granite. The decorations on the exterior are mainly geometric, without narrative. The metal doors of the main entrance are flanked by molded piers topped with streamlined eagles and a transom with the golden letters of its name.
The Empire State Building was designated a city landmark by the New York City landmarks Preservation Commission in 1980 and was added to the list of National Historic Landmarks in 1986.
11) Grand Central Terminal (must see)
The terms Grand Central Terminal and Grand Central Station are used interchangeably, but the station is also the central post office joined at the hip to the rail terminal. The business magnate Cornelius Vanderbilt bought the Hudson River and New York Central railroads in 1867. He merged them and started work on Grand Central Depot in 1869.
Architect John B. Snook designed the Grand Central Depot in the Second Empire style. The depot, with all its improvements, was completed by 1874. Trains approaching from the north would descend into the Park Avenue Tunnel at 96th street and travel underground to the terminal. This was a much safer deal than rattling down the crowded streets.
In 1902, a southbound steam locomotive ran past signals in the smoke-filled Park Avenue Tunnel and crashed into another train. After this accident, the depot was torn down and replaced by the current Grand Central Terminal. The architectural firm of Reed and Stern was responsible for the overall design of the station, while Warren and Wetmore worked on the Beaux-Arts exterior.
Grand Central Terminal features permanent works of art, including the celestial ceiling in the Main Concourse, the Glory of Commerce work, the statue of Cornelius Vanderbilt in front of the building's south facade, and the two cast-iron eagle statues adorning the terminal's facades.
Exhibitions and events are held regularly in Vanderbilt Hall. The Dining Concourse has exhibits of lightboxes. The terminal is also known for its performance and installation art, including flash mobs and other spontaneous events.
Architect John B. Snook designed the Grand Central Depot in the Second Empire style. The depot, with all its improvements, was completed by 1874. Trains approaching from the north would descend into the Park Avenue Tunnel at 96th street and travel underground to the terminal. This was a much safer deal than rattling down the crowded streets.
In 1902, a southbound steam locomotive ran past signals in the smoke-filled Park Avenue Tunnel and crashed into another train. After this accident, the depot was torn down and replaced by the current Grand Central Terminal. The architectural firm of Reed and Stern was responsible for the overall design of the station, while Warren and Wetmore worked on the Beaux-Arts exterior.
Grand Central Terminal features permanent works of art, including the celestial ceiling in the Main Concourse, the Glory of Commerce work, the statue of Cornelius Vanderbilt in front of the building's south facade, and the two cast-iron eagle statues adorning the terminal's facades.
Exhibitions and events are held regularly in Vanderbilt Hall. The Dining Concourse has exhibits of lightboxes. The terminal is also known for its performance and installation art, including flash mobs and other spontaneous events.