The Big Apple: Day 4, Part 1: Battery Park to Statue of Liberty

Good morning all!  It is Friday, October 14, 2011 -- Day 4 in New York City.  

Our  initial plans have changed from day to day but since we are on the last full day of being here, our first priority is to head out to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, then we plan to do the rest of the American Museum of Natural History and next go off to Soho for shopping (once Casey returns from work), dinner at Little Italy and if it isn't pouring rain like it was last night when we returned from the Comedy Cellar, we will do a carriage ride in Central Park. One hour at a time and we will see how the plans change today! I'm in a low right now so I'm waiting to ride it out before I hit the shower. Catch you all in a few!  

The huge wine bottle in Lindy's window

We are showered and ready to roll so Nika and I went next door to enjoy a somewhat-leisure breakfast.  All of our breakfasts so far have been hurry up and eat by grabbing something at our hotel's continental breakfast, but today, I thought let's change it up and stop and smell the roses for a moment.  In this case, it was breakfast next door at the famous Lindy's.  

Lindy's Restaurant:  Lindy's Restaurant- the famous Broadway delicatessen renowned for serving up the best New York Style Cheesecake to well known mobsters and mafia hit men and Hollywood legends alike throughout the early twentieth century. This place had all the glitz, glamour and dark history to make it a fixture of all things New York City.

The original restaurant was closed in 1969 but in 1979, a new "Lindy's" was opened to continue serving up the same great deli food and world famous cheesecake. It remains one of the top must-see restaurants for visitors to Manhattan.  We had breakfast there and it was, as many reviews have noted, high-priced, but what we each wanted to order contained a lot of food, so our outstanding waitress advised that Nika and I could split an order which would make it enough food for her to eat and enough carbs for me plus still get our beverages of choice.  After wiping our plates clean and steeping ourselves in enough coffee, we were off to catch the bus.  Grayline Express bus, that is. But stop the bus! We finally figure out that we are probably going to miss the Express bus, so figured since I am now adept at riding the subway and we don't want to wait another hour for the next one, we might as well hope a train out to Battery Park instead.   

We jump on the subway, again, right next to our hotel and the restaurant and switch trains wherever the hell it is that Nika tells us to get off and on at.  I just sit and let her figure this part out.  Once we arrive at Battery Park (our entrance to jump on the ferry to head out to Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty), we take some time to gently tour the grounds. 

Ok! I couldn't help myself!

Battery Park: Battery Park is a 25-acre public park located at the Battery, the southern tip of Manhattan Island, facing New York Harbor.  The Battery is named for artillery batteries that were positioned there in the city's early years in order to protect the settlement behind them.  At the north end of the park is Castle Clinton, the often re-purposed last remnant of the defensive works that inspired the name of the park; Pier A, formerly a fireboat station; and Hope Garden, a memorial to AIDS victims. At the other end is Battery Gardens restaurant, next to the United States Coast Guard Battery Building. Along the waterfront, ferries depart for the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, and there is also a New York Water Taxi stop. The park is also the site of the East Coast Memorial which commemorates U.S. servicemen who died in coastal waters of the western Atlantic Ocean during World War II, and several other memorials. 

Bust a Pose: Of course, there are also the little oddities that you find at Battery Park, too.  Take, for instance, Miss Lady Liberty standing about seven feet tall, begging tourists to have their picture taken with her (actually he -- on stilts).  I fell victim (yes, I had to pay to have her cozy up to me for a picture) but it was all for my personal New York experience, as you can see from the picture above.  By paying her you get the luxury and having her drape you with a flag and the honor of holding her torch.  (And, yes, again, all I got out of that was the picture!!)  Gullible? always! 

The Urban Farm at Battery Park

 The Urban Farm:  Amongst the skyscrapers that outline and form a circle around Battery Park, the most unimaginable thing we would find is a garden.  But there it is, as pictured at right. Students from eight city schools and a number of community groups use the space which include approximately 80 organic vegetable plots.  The Urban Farm came about after Millennium High School's Environmental Club requested permission to plant a vegetable garden in the park.  The one acre farm is fenced off by donated bamboo poles.  

Hope Garden in Battery Park is a memorial garden dedicated to AIDS victims. The garden has also served as a temporary September 11 memorial, housing The Sphere, which was damaged in the attacks. The garden has also been used as a site for environmental demonstrations since it is a tourist attraction.

The Sphere

The Sphere:  The Sphere is a large metallic sculpture now on display in Battery Park, but which once stood in the middle of Austin J. Tobin Plaza, the area between the World Trade Center towers in Manhattan. After being recovered from the rubble of the Twin Towers after the September 11, 2001, attacks, the artwork faced an uncertain fate, and it was dismantled into its components. Although it remained structurally intact, it had been visibly damaged by debris from the airliners that were crashed into the buildings and from the collapsing skyscrapers themselves.

Six months after the attacks, following a documentary film about the sculpture, it was relocated to Battery Park on a temporary basis—without any repairs—and formally rededicated with an eternal flame as a memorial to the victims of 9/11. It has become a major tourist attraction, due partly to the fact that it survived the attacks with only dents and holes. The Sphere is 25 feet high and cast in 52 bronze segments.  The artwork was meant to symbolize world peace through world trade, and was placed at the center of a ring of fountains in Tobin Plaza, and was designed to mimic the Grand Mosque of Mecca in Kaaba. It was set to rotate once every 24 hours.  

Castle Clinton

Castle Clinton:  or Fort Clinton, once known as Castle Garden, is a circular sandstone fort now located in Battery Park. It is perhaps best remembered as America's first immigration station (predating Ellis Island), where more than 8 million people arrived in the U.S. from 1855 to 1890. Over its active life, it has also functioned as a beer garden, exhibition hall, theater, public aquarium, and finally today as a national monument. Originally known as West Battery, it was renamed Castle Clinton in 1815, in honor of New York City mayor Dewitt Clinton.  It is the departure point for visitors to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. 


American Merchant Mariners' Memorial:  As we walk through the doorway of Castle Clinton and out the back area we find ourselves heading toward the shoreline to the metal line dividers set up to guide us to Pier A where we will depart.  Just before we start to snake through the lines, we find the American Merchant Mariners' Memorial.  Dedicated in 1991, this haunting memorial stands on a  rebuilt stone breakwater in the harbor and displays a bronze figural group and boat which are based on an actual historical event; during World War II, a Nazi U-boat attacked a merchant marine vessel, and while the mariners clung to their sinking vessel, the Germans photographed their victims.  

American Merchant Mariners' Memorial

When the idea was first conceived, it was meant to commemorate the thousands of merchant ships and crews which were put into military service since the Revolutionary War. In World War II alone it is estimated that 700 American merchant ships were lost, and 6,600 mariners gave their lives.  As is depicted in the photo at right and creating an emotional dynamic, depending on the ebb and flow of the harbor’s tides, the one figure (whose hand you see coming up out of the water), struggling beside the boat, is submerged each tidal cycle.  When viewing the monument, it brought tears to my eyes.  As I said, it is very emotional to see with the water lapping up and over the struggling hand in the water.

Once inside, we are herded into a gathering space where eventually we form two lines to start our departure to the ferries.  It is at this point that one can somewhat possibly imagine what it must have felt like to be an immigrant in the days before when hoards of those seeking a better life in America were herded into ships to descend upon the soil of New York City.  The lines that formed to head out onto the loading platform were interspersed with inspiration phrases such as pictured at right  from President John F. Kennedy and, and below, from Benjamin Franklin. 

Once we are safely aboard our ferry that will take us first to the Statue of Liberty, we are able to gaze out into the New York Harbor waters to see other ships that pass by as we catch up to speed.  

Staten Island Ferry:  Off in the distance I spy a Staten Island Ferry.  The Staten Island Ferry is a passenger ferry service operated by the New York City Department of Transportation that runs between the boroughs of Manhattan and Staten Island. 

Staten Island Ferry's "Kennedy Class"

There are eight ferry boats in four classes currently in service. Shown at right is one known as a “Kennedy class,” which was built in 1965. Each boat can carry 3,500 passengers and up to 40 vehicles, is 297 feet long, 69+ feet wide, with a draft of 13 feet, 6 inches.  A draft is the depth of a vessel's keel below the water line, especially when loaded.  The keel is the main structural member of a ship, running lengthwise along the center line from bow to stern, to which the frames are attached.  They also have a weight of 2,109 gross tons, service speed of 16 knots (which is a little better than 18 mph), and engines of 6,500 horsepower (for all you horsepower nuts).  

Next I catch the sight of another vessel in the water.  It is a shipping boat owned by Wallenius Wilhelmsen Logistics.

Wallenius Wilhelmsen Logistics is a privately owned Norwegian/Swedish shipping company, established in 1999 and co-owned by the two shipping companies Wallenius Lines and Wilh. Wilhelmsen.

The company offers a range of logistics services, including supply chain management, ocean transportation, terminal handling, inland distribution and technical services. It is one of the world's largest companies in the transporting of rolling equipment; automobiles, heavy machinery (mining, construction, farming equipment), yachts, trains, power stations and others. Headquartered in Oslo and Stockholm, it has main regional offices in New York, Tokyo and Sydney. Wallenius Wilhelmsen Logistics received the distinguished Norwegian American Trade Award for 2008 from the Norwegian-American Chamber of Commerce.  

Partial view of Ellis Island

Then out farther in the harbor waters, I see Ellis Island.  It is captivating to see, set apart off in the waters.  The thought of it somehow reminds me of Alcatrez Island in California.  I am not sure if it is the facade of the buildings or what.  It looks ominous. We'll talk more and see more of Ellis Island in my next post.  

Then not to damper the mood too much at the start of our aquatic journey, I spied the real Miss Lady Liberty off in the distance standing proud and awaiting our boat to dock.  

Statue of Liberty Off In The Distance

As we began our approach to Fort Wood, located on what is now known as Liberty Island, where the Statue of Liberty hangs her hat (or torch, in this case), I would be remiss if not to first mention a little about Fort Wood and its home. 

Fort Wood was a star-shaped fortification on Bedloe's Island (now known as Liberty Island). Its walls were used as the distinctive base for the Statue of Liberty. It is named in honor of Eleazer Derby Wood.  Wood was an American Army officer in the War of 1812, and a graduate of West Point who became the first graduate of West Point to die in battle.  He was greatly admired by the Army's commanding general Jacob Brown who commissioned a monument in his honor at West Point and also Fort Wood on Liberty Island.

Liberty Island is the small uninhabited island in New York Harborbest known as the location of the Statue of Liberty. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the island has a land area of 14.717 acres, which is the property of the federal government. Liberty Island is located in the Upper New York Bay surrounded by the waters of Jersey City, New Jersey, but its built portions and docks fall under the jurisdiction of the City of New York. The historical developments which led to this construction created the rare situation of an exclave of one state, New York, being situated in another, New Jersey. An exclave is strip of land that belongs to a political entity but that is not connected to it by land. The island is operated by the National Park Service, and since 9/11, is guarded by around-the-clock patrols of the U.S. Park Police Marine Patrol Unit. Liberty Island is 2000 feet (600 m) east of Liberty State Park in Jersey City and is 1-5/8 statute miles (2.6 kilometers) southwest of Battery Park in Lower Manhattan. Public access is permitted only by ferries from either of the two parks, Battery Park in Lower Manhattan or Liberty State Park in Jersey City. 
 

 

A hot topic of boundary disputes or border wars, The Statue of Liberty itself is claimed as a symbol by both New York and New Jersey. It is a tug-of-war of sorts as everyone from the two states try to lay claim to this grand lady.  She was featured on New York license plates from 1986 through 2000 and on a special New Jersey license plate celebrating Liberty State Park in Jersey City. The Statue is also seen on the New York State Quarter. The national monument was the symbol of the Central Railroad of New Jersey, still used by the Raritan Valley Line. (The Central Railroad of New Jersey Terminal is nearby).

Though it is uninhabited, the United States Geological Survey includes it as part of New York's 8th congressional district. Both New York City and Jersey City have assigned the island lot numbers. Utility services, including electricity, water, and sewage, to Liberty and Ellis Islands are provided from the New Jersey side. Mail is delivered from the Battery. 

As we walk around Fort Wood in order to catch the various glimpses of Miss Liberty as she proudly shows off her green-covered drapings, we find there is more to see there than just the Lady herself. 

 

There is, for instance, the World Trade Center Memorial Grove.  The plaque, at right, that sits in front of the group of trees notes that they were  dedicated to those who lost their lives in the events that transpired on 9/11. 

Also, for now at least, there is the Liberty Bike

The famous “Liberty Bike” built by Orange County Choppers and featured on the popular Discovery Channel / TLC television series “American Chopper” is currently on exhibit (began October 2011) at the Statue of Liberty throughout 2012 in celebration of her 125th Anniversary.

This motorcycle is entirely plated in copper that was preserved from the centennial restoration of the Statue of Liberty National Monument through an exclusive agreement with The Statue of Liberty - Ellis Island Foundation, Inc., under direction of The National Park Service / US Department of Interior.  The “Liberty Bike,” like the Statue of Liberty, is a work of art formed from copper and iron. There are many design features on this special motorcycle that were inspired by Miss Liberty, such as:  The shift lever is crafted from a section of cable that once carried electrical power to her torch.  The handle bar design was inspired by the spikes in Miss Liberty's crown.  The "DaVinci" designed carburetor is fashioned to resemble Lady Liberty's torch and lights up when the bike is running.


From start to completion this bike took only four and a half weeks to complete.

Manhattan Skyline: And, another added feature of Liberty Island is the chance to see the Manhattan Skyline.  The skyline, which you can see in the picture above can be viewed through viewfinders on Liberty Island so you can focus up a little closer.  You can see the haze from the rainy mist and fog settling in around the skyline.  It can also be seen, somewhat in the picture below of Nika, who is all cuddled up in her blanket she brought along.  Although it was a fairly nice day out, the air temperatures dip somewhat when we are out in the watery boundaries of Manhattan. 

The placard recognizing the Manhattan Skyline reads, "In 1886, the Statue of Liberty standing on her pedestal, stood taller than any other structure in New York City.  At 305 feet, 1 inch, it exceeded even the Brooklyn Bridge, which had been completed three years earlier.  However, the Statue was soon surpassed in height by the forest of tall buildings which today gives Manhattan its world-famous skyline."  

Rock from Norway:  Also there is the rock that reads" This stone from the mine that produced the copper in the statute of liberty was brought with the sailing ship "Sorlandet" as a gift to the US of America from the Citizens of Karmoy, Norway.  7/4/1986"

 Statue of Liberty:  Now that I have touched on almost everything else on the island, I suppose it is time for me to get around to talking about the main attraction -- Miss Lady Liberty herself. A gift from France, the Statue of Liberty was dedicated on October 28, 1886, designated as a National Monument in 1924, inscribed as a World Heritage Site in 1984 and restored for her centennial on July 4, 1986.  The Statue of Liberty, also known as "Liberty Enlightening the World" is a titanic neoclassical sculpture of a robed female figure representing Libertas, the Roman goddess of freedom, who bears a torch and a tablet (known as a "tabula ansata") on which is inscribed the date of the American Declaration of Independence, July 4, 1776.  With a broken chain laying at her feet, she has become an icon of freedom and of the United States. 

Statue of Liberty:  I suppose it is time for me to get around to talking about the main attraction -- Miss Lady Liberty herself. A gift from France, the Statue of Liberty was dedicated on October 28, 1886, designated as a National Monument in 1924, inscribed as a World Heritage Site in 1984 and restored for her centennial on July 4, 1986.  The Statue of Liberty, also now known as "Liberty Enlightening the World" is a titanic neoclassical sculpture of a robed female figure representing Libertas, the Roman goddess of freedom, who bears a torch and a tablet evoking the law (known as a "tabula ansata") on which is inscribed the date of the American Declaration of Independence, July 4, 1776.  With a broken chain laying at her feet, she has become an icon of freedom and of the United States.  

Yeah, I had to do this ( a couple times!)

You Said How Big? As you already probably know so much about Miss Liberty, I thought I would share a few other details about her which you may find interesting.  Let's talk about her physical attributes.  Even though she may not look so collassol in the picture above (between my fingers), did you know that she, herself, is 151 feet, 1 inch tall? With the foundation of the pedestal that she so proudly stands on, we come in at a whopping total of 305 feet, 1 inch (from ground level to the tip of her torch); from heel to the top of her head - 111 feet, 1 inch.  The length of her hand is 16 feet, 5 inches; her index finger is 8 feet, 1 inch long; her head from chinny-chin-chin to the top of her cranium is 17 feet, 3 inches.  The thickness from ear to ear is 10 feet; the distance between her eyes is 2-1/2 feet; her nose is 4 -1/2 feet long; the thickness of her waist is 35 feet; the width of her mouth is 3 feet; her tablet is 23'7" long by 13'7" wide, and 2 feet thick.  The weight of the copper used in the statue is 60,000 pounds or 30 tons, while the weight of the steel used in this statue is 250,000 pounds, or 125 tons.  If you think that is a lot, here is the grand slam – the total weight of the entire statue is 450,000 pounds, which translates into a stellar 225 tons.  Now, if there was ever somebody who needed to lose a little around the middle!!! (I’m not feeling so bad right now – okay, I know, not exactly apples to apples).  

A Little Inner Makeover:  It was announced earlier last year (2011) that the Statue of Liberty National Monument would be undergoing a $27.25 million renovation that would includes safety and other critical facility renovations.  This, of course, began in October -- right before we visited.  Two years prior to that they had just reopened the crown to visitors, which had been closed down since the 9/11 attacks.   They plan to install code compliant stairways within the monument, update mechanical, electrical and fire suppression systems, replace the elevators, and rehabilitate restrooms. The improvements will also allow for increased visitor access to the monument, including the pedestal and the museum.  All good, but not for us since we were then unable to go up into the Statue.  Approximately 3.5 million people visit Liberty Island each year, but, before the project began, only a small percentage actually secure a reservation to enter into the monument and scale to the top. With approximately three groups ascending the crown per hour, an average of 240 visitors climb to the crown each day.

Webcams at the Statue of Liberty:  In October of 2011, it was announced that The Lady would now also be known officially as "Liberty Enlightening the World." Why, you ask? Well,  beginning then she could actually be called "Liberty Enlightening the World Wide Web" thanks to a series of new web cams placed around her torch.  

Yes, besides rainy it was also windy!

Several remarkable views will be just a touch of a mouse away. On clear days, three cameras will provide unobstructed panoramas and live views of the famed New York City skyline, along with a front row seat to watch views of the majestic Hudson River and ships in New York Harbor. And that's just looking out.  The two remaining cameras provide truly unique views with one provideing a ultra wide-angle interactive view of the famed golden torch and the final camera looking downward.

Using today's technology, you can now go online and see views from her torch, her crown and even see a panaromic view of the skyline.  Wow!  Just go to http://www.ellisisland.org/TorchCam/ and click on "Torch Cam," "Crown Cam" and/or any of the other views that are listed. 

Now, onto the question that I know is just eating at you.

Why is She Green?  The answer is the air.  As I have previously described to you, her "skin" is made of copper, and when copper is exposed to oxygen in the air, it undergoes a chemical reaction known as oxidation.  The reaction causes  fine crust or film to develop that is usually green in color.  This layer actually protects the original metal underneath.  With copper and bronze, this natural process is called patination (i.e., you know you have heard or said "something has a nice patina").  It took nearly 30 years for The Lady to turn from her original copper color to the green you see in the pictures here.  On our sightseeing excursions around New York City, we have witnessed this process on other buildings, too, where bronze metals were used for roofing and/or ornamentation and through the years the caps on the buildings or their little decorative trinkets have turned green (with envy)!   

Alas, there wouldn't be a place in New York City to see if it didn't sell something, too.  And, Liberty Island is no different.  It has its own souveneir shop where we made our way through and I did just minor damage.  One of my finds was a Statue of Liberty Barbie doll which I purchased for my niece/goddaughter, Kailey, for Christmas.  Nika also spied a New York sling bag for me.  It was something I had been looking for on our trip. More to carry, but I am getting used to that.

The Ferry we are going to catch to go to Ellis Island

Okay, we've done the tour of Liberty Island and its famous inhabitant.  It is time to say goodbye, so off we go to catch the next ferry in time to head on over to Ellis Island.  Part two of our aquatic adventure is about to being.  This boat trip isn't over yet, folks.

But before I leave you, I can't help myself -- I have to do it one more time, but this time from the ferry.

Okay, I'm done doing that now!

[Next post -- we're off to Ellis Island.]