Things to do and see in Civic Center

Civic Center in New York is the neighbourhood in Lower Manhattan where New York City Hall and other government buildings are located. Civic Center is bordered to the west by Broadway and Tribeca, to the north by Chinatown and Worth Street, to the east by the East River and to the south by the Financial District. It is a stately neighbourhood, with many beautiful buildings in a classical style.

Eric's Index

1 Things to do and see in Civic Center
2 Getting Married in New York
3 How to get to Civic Center?
4 FAQ

Things to do and see in Civic Center

At the heart of New York City’s Civic Center is the Foley Square intersection, with a park called Thomas Paine Park in the middle. There are several courthouses around Foley Square, and the name of this place is synonymous with the New York legal system. Fans of the Law and Order TV series will recognise a lot here. Chances are, you will even come across a movie set of the series!

Buildings in Civic Center

The main highlight of Civic Center is the impressive buildings. Many of the buildings in Civic Center have a classic look. Because of the high pillars and the cream-coloured stone, you almost feel as if you are in Rome for a while. Some buildings that are worth seeing are the classic St. Andrew Roman Catholic Church, the impressive New York Supreme Court and of course the City Hall.

The City Hall is not open to the public, although there are weekly tours if you’re really interested. However, several other buildings in the Civic Center are open for public entry.

One of the largest government buildings in the world can also be found in this district. The Manhattan Municipal Building has 40 floors and is home to no fewer than 13 municipal institutions. After your visit to Civic Center, walk directly to the Brooklyn Bridge via the pedestrian walkway!

Eric’s Tip: “Because of the many important things that take place in this area, there is security in many places. You will encounter roadblocks and security shelters, but in general, the barriers mainly affect cars. As a pedestrian, you can usually just pass it and view the buildings from different sides.”

African Burial Ground National Monument

On the west side of Civic Center, you’ll find the African Burial Ground National Monument. This site is the oldest and largest known burial ground in North America for both enslaved and free Africans who lived and worked in colonial New York. The monument honours the memory of the enslaved Africans who helped build New York, and it also contains a visitor centre.

Surrogate’s Court

One of the buildings in Civic Center that you can actually visit is the Surrogate’s Court at 31 Chambers Street. This former courthouse is still used for municipal purposes, but you can also visit an exhibition there. This allows you to admire the impressive building from the inside.

Eric’s Tip: “Do you want to explore this neighbourhood thoroughly and make sure you visit all the highlights? Then take the TriBeCa walking route in my Eric’s New York App. I’ll take you to all the interesting and unique places in both TriBeCa and Civic Center.”

Getting Married in New York

You will probably also visit the Civic Center if you want to get married in New York. The New York City Marriage Bureau is located here, the place where you can get registered to marry.

Those who explore the Civic Center will find that most people come here for lawsuits, weddings and other “civil affairs”. They are often neatly dressed and in a different mood from the city’s visitors. Restaurants and shops are therefore hard to find here. Would you like a bite to eat? Then walk on to the adjacent Chinatown.

How to get to Civic Center?

Civic Center in Manhattan can be reached with the Hop on Hop off buses, which stop nearby. You can also take a subway. There’s a station in the heart of the neighbourhood at Chambers Street, where you can take the lines JZ, or you can hop on the RW trains to City Hall. Also, a lot of trains stop at Fulton Street, which is only a short walk from Civic Center.

FAQ

As many of the buildings are still in use as government buildings, you usually cannot just walk in. However, some buildings are accessible, such as the Surrogate's Court.

Civic Centre is probably the most secure neighbourhood in New York because of all the government buildings. So yes, you can be sure that it is very safe here.

At first glance, this neighbourhood may seem a bit dull because of all the government buildings, but there is plenty to see here too! The architecture is impressive, and some of the buildings are open to visitors. There is also a special National Monument with a visitor centre.