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Satellite Image of NYC area, showing:
- Largest City in US - New York - with over 7.3 million pop. (1990) - 74% of
whom live upstairs
- plus, part of the 11 million more in northern New Jersey & Long Island
- 18.5 million in the metropolitan area (not all of which is seen above) - one
of largest in the world
- The Hudson River divides New Jersey to the west from New York
- New Jersey is the most densely populated state in the US
- New York city is the most important financial center in the world
On Top of the Empire State Building (86th floor)
View North from Empire State Building
Sites: the Palisade Cliffs of New Jersey on the other side of the Hudson River; the George Washington Bridge; Central Park can be easily seen in the lower right. The George Washington Bridge was the first major suspension bridge built in the US.
On the Ferry to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island
The Statue of Liberty was a gift from France to commemorate the US centennial in 1876. It is also called the "Liberty Enlightening the World" and stands 300 feet from the bottom of the pedestal. The statue itself is 151 ft and 1 inch tall. Up to 40 people can stand inside the Head at one time.
The famous poem* on
the base of the statue reads, in part:
" Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe
free, The wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost
to me, I lift my lamp beside the golden door!" - Emma Lazarus, American
writer
Ellis Island was in operation from 1892 to 1954 and processed 17 million immigrants.
It was abandoned from 1954 to 1984, and now houses the Us Immigration Museum.
Statue of Liberty from Ellis Island
Unremodelled wing of the Great Hall with Manhattan in the background and the Wall of Honor on Ellis Island
Ellis Island Immigrant Wall of Honor
It is estimated that 40% of Americans either came through Ellis Island or are
descendants of someone who did.
Finding an Ancestor
Dr. Dallen Timothy of Arizona State University (born in St. George, UT) finds his ancestor on the Wall of Honor. The wall holds about 420,000 names (you need to pay to have a relatives name placed on it.)
If you think you have a relative who passed through Ellis Island, you might want to visit http://www.ellisisland.org/*
New York receives some 17.5 million visitors a year
- more than any other single city in the world -- bring your camera!
The Ed Sullivan Theater - just off Times Square
Times Square is down the street (left of photo); Broadway theaters are between here and Times Square
Below is one of New York's more popular delis
New York has 100,000 hotel rooms; 350 theaters; 120 museums; 400 art galleries
and 36 single spaced pages (without ads) of restaurants in Yellow Pages
Deli Sandwiches
A geographer (and former NY taxi cab driver) enjoying a turkey sandwich and a rueben sandwich (both partially eaten) -- they make them big here!
59th Street Subway Station
The Street Crowd outside the morning Today Show
Staten Island Ferry & Verazano Narrow Bridge
The ferry is now a free ride, the bridge was the world's longest suspension bridge when it was built.
Staten Island is behind the building in the distance and is the only rural
area within New York city proper.
Giovanni da Verazano was the first European to sail the US east coast from North
Carolina to Newfoundland in 1524. He was the first to enter New York Harbor,
which the bridge spans.
The World Trade Center Site - Summer 2003
Battery Park at the tip of Manhattan. The World Trade Center was situated in the middle of this view, where the gaps exists on both sides of the moderately tall brown building. Wall Street and the Financial District is on the right side of this scene.
The Sphere - in Battery Park
"For three decades, this sculpture stood in the plaza of the World Trade Center. Entitled [sic] "The Sphere," it was conceived by artist Fritz Koenig as a symbol of world peace. It was damaged during the tragic events of September 11, 2001, but endures as an icon of hope and the indestructible spirit of this country. The Sphere was placed here on March 11, 2002 as a temporary memorial to all who lost their lives in the terrorist attacks at the World Trade Center. -- This eternal flame was ignited on September 11, 2002 in honor of all those who were lost. Their spirit and sacrifice will never be forgotten." (From a plaque adjacent to this site.)
Walking north from Battery Park, the World Trade Center towers occupied the open space in the distance. The entrance to a subway line is in the foreground of this photo.
New York subway security during one of the Homeland Security Agency's first "orange alerts". (This photo was taken by a friend who lives in New York)
Hawker wares - Some of the brochures sold by street hawkers at the World Trade Center site. Mugs, T-shirts, and statues are among the many souvenirs available.
The World Trade Center site viewed from the west side (looking east). Almost every window that you see in this photo was shattered by the blast.
Click here* to view Proposals for buildings and memorials for this site
Walkway on the south side of the WTC site (on the right side of the photo above). This is the main close-up viewing area for visitors.
The graffiti below covers the wall on the left side of the walkway (above).
The Chinese characters on this part of the wall reads: "Terrorism is shameful / Eliminate terrorism / People should be protected -- a Chinese citizen"
Below is an apparently self-appointed guide to the WTC site. He seemed very informed and held the rapt attention of visitors as he described what happened and what the affects were on the surrounding buildings. He handed out free copies of the map below, showing the buildings that received the most damaged in the terrorist attack. Still in 2003 there were some condemned buildings that were awaiting demolition (such as the one with the boarded up windows in the background of this photo.)
A map of the WTC site showing the buildings that were all or partially destroyed by the attack.
Another view of the WTC site, from the south side looking north.
Flag of Heroes - above a street hawker stand in Battery Park
Flag of Heroes-- "This flag commemorates the names of the emergency service personnel who gave their lives to save others in the terrorist attack of 9-11. Now and forever it will represent their immortality. We shall never forget them." (Text at the bottom of this flag.)
Some 9/11 - Facts
Sept. 11, 2001: Hijacked jetliners hit the World Trade Center in New York and the Pentagon outside Washington. A fourth hijacked plane crashes into a field in Pennsylvania. Trading on Wall Street is stopped. The Federal Aviation Administration halts all flight operations at the nation's airports for the first time in US history. US military is placed on high alert.