The historic importance of
NEW YORK HARBOR was an entrance and passageway for many immigrants from Europe and their first glimpse of the New World and America. Revolutionary War battles took place in New York, Brooklyn and Staten Island and New York City was also the nation's first capitol.
Important historical facts about NYC:
- The Declaration of Independence was publicly read to George Washington’s troops and the public in New York City on July 9, 1776 at what is now City Hall Park in downtown Manhattan.
- Revolutionary War battles were fought on Staten Island, in Brooklyn Heights, Long Island (August 27 - 29, 1776) and Harlem Heights (September 16, 1776)
- In the summer of 1776 a British fleet of 30 battleships with 1,200 cannons, 30,000 soldiers, 10,000 sailors and 300 supply ships occupied New York Harbor. (The number of ships and soldiers vary in different accounts)
- George
Washington planned an astonishing retreat of Continental Army
troops from Brooklyn Heights across the East River. The British
still captured New York City and held it for seven years.
- During the war, American prisoners of war would be imprisoned aboard British prison ships in New York harbor and over 11,000 would die there.
- General George Washington set up another war-time headquarters at Morris-Jumel Mansion in Harlem Heights and eventually, at the Battle of Harlem Heights, American troops forced the British to retreat from Manhattan.
- At
a Harlem tavern on November 25, 1783, George Washington waited for word
that the British troops had finally left New York City. The
British had occupied New York City for over seven years.
- At Fraunces Tavern in downtown Manhattan, Washington said an emotional goodbye to his troops on December 4, 1783. The Tavern would become offices of the new U.S. government's Departments of War, Treasury and Foreign Affairs.
- New York City became the country's capital on January 11, 1785 and U. S. Congress met here for the first time.
- The
country's first President, George Washington, was sworn into office by
the first Vice President, John Adams, at Federal Hall (on Wall Street)
on April 30, 1789. Washington would enter New York City and New
York harbor by crossing the Hudson River from Elizabethtown, New Jersey
on a 55 foot barge navigated by 13 rowing sailors in white
uniforms. He was then driven to the inauguration ceremony in a
canary-yellow carriage pulled by six white horses and accompanied by
the New York State militia. Cannons roared, church bells rang,
crowds gathered and shouted from the streets and rooftops and candles
were aglow throughout the City that evening. At the ball each
woman was given a fan with an ivory frame, made in Paris, which when
opened, displayed a likeness of George Washington's profile.
- The first presidential mansion was at 3 Cherry Street in downtown Manhattan.
- The City has always been a home to those seeking a new life without oppression and bigotry and a beacon to artists, musicians, jazz pioneers, and progressive thinkers, and
- Many
of our ancestors entered this country as immigrants with their hopes of
a new life through New York Harbor and Ellis Island, and, therefore,
New York City is a city that belongs to the entire U.S. and the entire
world.
Lower Manhattan is a rich textbook of American history. The photo above is of New York Harbor and its bridges (as seen from the South Street Seaport Museum): the Brooklyn Bridge (1883), the Manhattan Bridge (1909) and the Williamsburgh Bridge (1896) in the far distance. New York City was a bridge from the Old World to the New World, a bridge to endless possibilities and new hopes and new lives.
There are many wonderful websites on New York City and one might ask why another one? This website is my own personal celebration of the City and its exciting and diverse history. It is also an opportunity to share photos of historic and favorite City landmarks, and to suggest places you may wish to photograph when visiting here (some which may not be in your tour guide).
Ads are by Google. Some will be helpful when planning a visit to the Big Apple, the City that Never Sleeps, the Big Onion, the Big Oyster, Gotham, the Empire City, the Melting Pot, Absolute Heaven, A Hell of a Town, "Little Old Bagdad on the Subway" (as writer O'Henry called New York), or whatever.
Links on many pages here are to places in or near that neighborhood. Some links lead directly to New York Architect Images, an excellent source of information on New York City architecture with old drawings and photographs.
PHOTOS BY AND THE PROPERTY
OF RONALD SPAINHOUR
© 2008 by Ronald Spainhour
Prints of photos are available, contact: Ronald Spainhour