Castle Clinton in New York
Castle Clinton in New York is a circular stone fort situated in the heart of Battery Park, at the southern tip of Manhattan. Construction began in 1808, and since then it has served a variety of purposes, including use as a fort, an opera house, an immigration station and an aquarium. Nowadays, it houses the ticket office for the ferry to the Statue of Liberty. Thanks to its rich history, Castle Clinton at The Battery has been designated a national monument and is certainly worth a visit.
Eric's Index
Castle Clinton in Battery Park
Castle Clinton is one of the most historic sites in New York. The fort was built in 1808 on a small island just off the coast of Manhattan. It was constructed to protect the city from a possible British attack during the War of 1812. As a result, the fort was armed with 28 cannons. Eventually, not a single shot was ever fired in battle.
Castle Clinton was not the only fort meant to protect New York. Across the water, on Governors Island, stands its twin, Castle Williams. Both forts were designed by the same person and built during the same period. Both aimed their cannons at the channel between Manhattan and Governors Island to provide optimal protection.
In 1817, the fort was named Castle Clinton, in honour of DeWitt Clinton, who had been the city’s mayor a few years earlier. Later, the water between the island and Manhattan was filled in, and the fort became part of what we now know as Battery Park.
From Fort to Castle Garden
Eventually, in 1821, the army left the fort, and it took on a completely different role. It became a venue for entertainment, known as Castle Garden. Concerts, theatre performances and operas were held there. In 1850, for example, the Swedish singer Jenny Lind performed there. It may not sound like anything special now, but back then it was a very special occasion.
Immigration station
In 1855, Castle Garden took on another new role: the fort was converted into the first official immigration station in the United States. Between 1855 and 1890, more than 8 million immigrants arrived here. The immigration station subsequently moved to Ellis Island.
Castle Clinton Aquarium
Once the immigration station had been relocated, the building entered its most surprising phase. In 1896, Castle Clinton was converted into New York’s first aquarium. It attracted huge crowds and remained one of the city’s most popular attractions for many years. In 1941, the aquarium had to close due to the construction of the Brooklyn-Battery Tunnel (now the Hugh L. Carey Tunnel). The animals were moved to the Bronx Zoo, among other places, and eventually to the New York Aquarium on Coney Island.
Castle Clinton National Monument
After the Castle Clinton Aquarium moved out, the fort stood empty. There were calls to demolish the building, but this met with strong opposition, including from President Franklin D. Roosevelt. In 1946, Castle Clinton was officially designated as the Castle Clinton National Monument. In 1975, it was fully restored to its original 19th-century appearance and opened its doors to the public.
Current use of Castle Clinton
The Castle Clinton monument is still open today. It’s now the place where you scan your discount pass to get tickets for the Statue of Liberty and the starting point to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island Tour. There are also free exhibitions on the history of the fort.
As Castle Clinton is a National Monument, it’s managed by the National Park Service. This means that there are staff members (rangers) who give free guided tours. You can ask about these at one of the information desks.
Practical Information
- Location: Castle Clinton is located in Battery Park, the southernmost tip of Manhattan
- Opening times: daily from 7:45 until 17:00
- How to get there: Take subway lines 45 to Bowling Green, RW to Whitehall or line 1 to South Ferry
- Accessibility: The monument and exhibitions are fully wheelchair accessible
FAQ
Was this article helpful? Recommend it by giving me a rating: