For our second day in New York City, Stewbert and I grabbed the subway to the southern tip of Manhattan. Herein lies the other striking thing about the Big Apple: The city is so cosmopolitan, so contemporary, yet underneath the glossy surface is a timeless treasure trove of American history that predates the Revolution.
We exited the No. 5 at Bowling Green, New York's oldest park. This is allegedly where the island of Manhattan was purchased from the Native Americans at a cost of $24. The fence surrounding the green is original, dating back to 1771. We continued our journey past the World Trade Center site, which sadly still is a fenced-off hole in the ground. Next we passed St. Paul's Chapel which, built in the 1760s, is Manhattan's only pre-Revolutionary church. George Washington walked here to attend thanksgiving mass following his first inauguration.
Following Broadway, we came to Trinity Church. Such notable figures as Alexander Hamilton and Robert Fulton are buried here. Looking south, Stewbert and I caught a glimpse of the Wall Street Bull, an indication of New York's continued prominence on the world scene.
We walked down Wall Street, to the Federal Hall National Monument. Did you know New York City was America's first capital? At Federal Hall, Washington took the first oath of office, and Congress first met. A statue of Washington immortalizes the spot, and appropriately, looks directly across the street to the New York Stock Exchange.
Concluding our day, Stewbert and I walked across the Brooklyn Bridge. This structure was the world's first steel suspension bridge, and when built, the stone towers were the city's tallest structures. At 126 years of age, it still is the world's most beautiful bridge, offering some of the best views of one of the best cities.
- Dan Wegmueller writes a weekly column for the Times, and an annual journal from his summer motorcycle trip. He can be reached at dwegs@tds.net.
We exited the No. 5 at Bowling Green, New York's oldest park. This is allegedly where the island of Manhattan was purchased from the Native Americans at a cost of $24. The fence surrounding the green is original, dating back to 1771. We continued our journey past the World Trade Center site, which sadly still is a fenced-off hole in the ground. Next we passed St. Paul's Chapel which, built in the 1760s, is Manhattan's only pre-Revolutionary church. George Washington walked here to attend thanksgiving mass following his first inauguration.
Following Broadway, we came to Trinity Church. Such notable figures as Alexander Hamilton and Robert Fulton are buried here. Looking south, Stewbert and I caught a glimpse of the Wall Street Bull, an indication of New York's continued prominence on the world scene.
We walked down Wall Street, to the Federal Hall National Monument. Did you know New York City was America's first capital? At Federal Hall, Washington took the first oath of office, and Congress first met. A statue of Washington immortalizes the spot, and appropriately, looks directly across the street to the New York Stock Exchange.
Concluding our day, Stewbert and I walked across the Brooklyn Bridge. This structure was the world's first steel suspension bridge, and when built, the stone towers were the city's tallest structures. At 126 years of age, it still is the world's most beautiful bridge, offering some of the best views of one of the best cities.
- Dan Wegmueller writes a weekly column for the Times, and an annual journal from his summer motorcycle trip. He can be reached at dwegs@tds.net.