History of Castle clinton

Castle Clinton National Monument/earlier New York Aquarium (1896-1941)/earlier Emigrant Landing Depot (1855-1890)/earlier Castle Garden (1824-1855)/originally West Battery (1808-1811, renamed Castle Clinton, 1815). Lt. Col. Jonathan Williams and John McComb, Jr. Open to the public: 7-5 daily. 212-344-7220.


Castle Clinton or Fort Clinton is a circular sandstone fort and national monument in Battery Park at the southern tip of Manhattan, New York City.




Castle Clinton, also referred to as Castle Garden, is a fort and national monument located in Battery Park at the southern tip of Manhattan in New York City. The structure has served as a fort, theater, opera house, national immigrant receiving station, and aquarium throughout its long history. Today, Castle Garden is called Castle Clinton National Monument and serves as the ticket center for ferries to Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty.



Construction began in 1808 and was completed in 1811 on an island known as West Battery (sometimes South-west Battery), and was designed by architects John McComb Jr. and Jonathan Williams.

West Battery was intended to complement Fort Williams (still extant) on Governors Island, which was East Battery to defend New York City from English forces in the tensions that marked the run-up to the War of 1812, but never saw action in that or any war. Subsequent landfill expanded Battery Park, and placed the fort on the mainland of Manhattan Island.

As with all historic areas administered by the National Park Service, Castle Clinton National Monument was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on October 15, 1966.




History of Castle Garden
Castle Clinton began its interesting life as a fort built to defend New York Harbor from the British during the War of 1812. Twelve years after the war it was ceded to New York City by the U.S. Army. The former fort reopened in 1824 as Castle Garden, a public cultural center and theatre. In 1855, Castle Garden became America's first immigrant receiving center, welcoming more than 8 million immigrants before it was closed on April 18, 1890. Castle Garden was succeeded by Ellis Island in 1892.

In 1896 Castle Garden became the site of the New York City Aquarium, a capacity in which it served until 1946 when plans for the Brooklyn-Battery Tunnel called for its demolition. The public outcry at the loss of the popular and historic building saved it from destruction, but the aquarium was closed and Castle Garden stood vacant until it was reopened by the National Park Service in 1975.

Due to its location at the foot of New York Harbor, Castle Clinton can be a lovely place to have an outdoor lunch or a place to test extreme weather gear. Spring and Fall are generally mild. However, winters bring on the full force of wind swept harbor waters and can be quite cold. Summers tend to be very hot and humid.

In June 1824, Castle Clinton was leased by the city as a place of public entertainment. Opened as Castle Garden on July 3, it soon became one of the favored"places of resort" in New York. A newspaper described the interior as a "fanciful garden, tastefully ornamented with shrubs and flowers." In time, a great fountain was installed. The Garden was the setting for band concerts, fireworks, an occasional balloon ascension, and demonstrations of the latest scientific achievements. The gun rooms, decorated with marble busts and painted panoramas, became a promenade and, from boxes seating eight people, a place from which to watch the show. A more popular promenade was the top of the Garden wall, where awnings covered a 4.2-meter (14-foot) walkway. The officers' quarters became a bar selling choice liquors, confections, and ices.

Today Castle Clinton is a national monument because of its historical importance. The wails of the 1811 fort remain intact, while the interior has been given a new life. Located in Battery Park at the southern tip of Manhattan, convenient to bus and subway routes. the Castle is now a visitor center for the national parks in Manhattan.

Exhibits introduce the site itself as well as other parks in and around New York City. A bookstore and an information desk are located at a kiosk on the parade ground; another kiosk is the ticket sales outlet for transportation to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. Ferry departure times vary throughout the year. Accommodations have been made for those with hearing, visual, and mobility impairments.