Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
summer hr)
leave from Battery Park and tickets include admission to both sights, and re-
servations can be made in advance.
Ellis Island
LANDMARK, MUSEUM
( 212-363-3200;
www.nps.gov/elis
; 1 to South Ferry, 4/5 to Bowling Green)
Ellis Island is
currently closed to visitors due to damage from Hurricane Sandy and as this topic went
to print there was no planned reopening date. Yet it remains one of New York's most
iconic landmarks. The way-station from 1892 to 1954 for more than 12 million immig-
rants who were hoping to make new lives in the United States, Ellis Island conjures up
the humble and sometimes miserable beginnings of the experience of coming to America
- as well as the fulfillment of dreams. More than 3000 died in the island's hospital and
more than two percent were denied admission. Before Hurricane Sandy wreaked havoc
on the island, the handsome main building had been restored as the
Immigration Mu-
seum
, with fascinating exhibits and a film about immigrant experiences, the processing
of immigrants and how the influx changed the USA.
National September 11 Memorial
MEMORIAL
MAP
GOOGLE MAP
( 212-266-5211;
www.911memorial.org
;
daily; R to Cortlandt St)
After more than
a decade of cost overruns, delays and politicking, the redevelopment of the World Trade
Center site destroyed by the attacks of September 11, 2001, is finally coming to fruition.
Half of the area's 16 acres is dedicated to honoring victims and preserving history, while
the remaining space is occupied by office towers, a Santiago Calatrava-designed trans-
port hub, museum and performing arts center - the last three not yet open. The focus of
the moving memorial, which opened to the public on September 12, 2011, are the two
large pools with cascading waterfalls set in the footprints of the north and south towers.
Bronze parapets surrounding the pools are inscribed with the names of those killed in the
attacks, and hundreds of swamp whitewood trees provide shade to the site. Visitor passes
with a $2 service fee can be reserved through the memorial's website. The $3.2 billion
One World Trade Center, formerly known as the Freedom Tower, has reached the 104th
floor and the 408ft steel spire has been installed, making it at 1776ft the tallest building
in the US. You can check progress on the site or reserve passes by visiting the
9/11 Me-
morial Preview Site
MAP
GOOGLE MAP
(
www.911memorial.org
;
20 Vesey St;
9am-7pm
, which has exhibits and information on the rebuilding
Mon-Fri, 8am-7pm Sat & Sun)
or go to
www.wtcprogress.com
.
Nearby is the
Tribute WTC Visitor Center
(
866-737-1184;
www.tributewtc.org
; 120
Liberty St; adult/child $17/5;
10am-6pm Mon-Sat, to 5pm Sun;
E to World Trade Center, R/W
