Central Park is probably one of the most well-known parks in the world. The park is located in upper-Manhattan in New York City. Central Park is the most visited park in the United States and had more than 50 million visitors in 2015. The location is also often used as a movie scene and is considered to be one of the most filmed locations in the world. The beautiful bridges and arches in the park allow for a nice afternoon walk and provides a great location for a run or picnic. The park was established by Calvert Vaux and Frederick Law Olmsted in 1857. The year later the park was opened to the public. During the American Civil War the construction of the park continued and the park was expanded in 1873. After the expansion the park comprised a total area of 341 hectares. Central Park includes many sculptures, structures and attractions. For example, the Alice in Wonderland Margaret Delacorte Memorial is a beautiful sculpture located in the middle of the park. The Belvedere Castle and the Burnett Memorial Fountain are also worth visiting. Furthermore, the park also has a zoo. While the park is always open to the public, the zoo has limited opening times but allows for a great afternoon of seeing wild animals.
The Metropolitan Museum of Art, often referred to as the MET Museum, is one of the highlights of the city of New York. The museum has three sites in New York, namely the MET Fifth Avenue, the MET Breuer and the MET Cloisters. The MET Museum is considered to be the largest art museum in the United States and is also among the most visited art museums in the world. The museum has an average of 5 million visitors annually. The collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art includes over two million art pieces from artists all over the world and can be found among the seventeen different art departments. The museum’s galleries and its exhibitions reveal both new ideas and unexpected connections throughout time and across cultures. Thus, the museum aims to aspire to be more than a treasure of beautiful and rare objects. The main building of the MET Museum is by area one of the biggest art galleries in the world. Another popular department visited is The Cloisters which are located on the upper side of Manhattan. The Cloisters are a rare collection of architecture, art and monuments from Medieval Europe.
The famous Rockefeller Center is one of the most popular attractions in New York City. The Rockefeller Center is located in Midtown Manhattan and is considered to be one of New York’s landmarks. The Rockefeller Center is visited all year long by tourists from all over the world. The building is home to different events throughout the year. The top floor of the Rockefeller Center is called the Top of the Rock Observation Deck. The Observation Deck offers a beautiful view all over the city of New York. The building also offers the opportunity to go shopping, have dinner or organize a private event. The Rockefeller Center was built in 1939 by businessman John D. Rockefeller. Currently, Saturday Night Live and NBC Studios host their shows in this building and offer tourists the opportunity to go backstage. Moreover, the building also allows for art enthusiasts to enjoy a great experience. The building has a beautiful art collection attracting many visitors each year. While the Rockefeller Center is already one of New York’s main sightseeing locations, it was also declared to be a National Historic Landmark in 1987.
The Empire State Building is the tallest building in New York City. Together with the Rockefeller Center and many other sights, it is considered to be one the city’s landmarks. The Empire State Building has featured in over 90 different movies, including King Kong and Annie Hall. Moreover, the building is also a crucial piece of the New York skyline featuring its distinct upper floors. The building is currently the 4th tallest freestanding building in the United States and is also ranked as the 9th tallest building in the world. The Empire State Building attracts almost 4 million visitors a year and has a total of 102 stories. The name of the building is derived from the nickname given to the city of New York, namely Empire State. The building has a total height of 443 meters and allows for visitors to visit the up to the 102nd Floor Observatory. The construction of the building was completed in 1931 and was ranked the tallest building in the world at the time. The first use of the building was to signal that President Franklin Roosevelt had won the presidential election in 1932.
Times Square is located in Midtown Manhattan and serves as an intersection between Seventh Avenue and Broadway. Times Square is a huge commercial neighborhood surrounded with advertisements and colorful billboards. The major intersection stretches from the 42nd to the 47th streets. As one of the world’s busiest intersections, it is often referred to as The Crossroads of the World, The Heart of the World or The Center of the Universe. Times Square attracts an average of 50 million visitors a year and is the heart of the world’s entertainment industry. Besides the many billboards and advertisements, there are also many Disney and famous movie characters walking around providing entertainment to the many visitors. On the busiest days of the year, over 450,000 pedestrians walk through Times Square. Times Square is also known for the annual Ball Drop on New Year’s Eve. The Ball Drop from the Times Building attracts millions of visitors to Times Square each year.
The Statue of Liberty, also described as The Statue of Liberty Enlightening the World, is located on Liberty Island in New York Harbor. The sculpture was a gift of friendship from France to the people of the United States. The Statue of Liberty is recognized as a universal symbol of democracy and freedom. The statue was designed by Auguste Bartholdi and was built by Gustave Eiffel. The Statue of Liberty is a female figure representing the Roman goddess Libertas holding a tabula and a torch. On the statue the date of the American Declaration of Independence is inscribed, namely the 4th of July 1776. The building was designated as a National Monument in 1924. Moreover, the Statue of Liberty was added to the UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1984. It was described to be a masterpiece of the human spirit. It is possible to visit Liberty Island and climb the statue. The Statue is accessible for everyone and it is possible to climb all the up to the crown. The top of the Statue provides a beautiful view over the New York Skyline. However, due to the popularity of the Statue of Liberty it is highly recommended to purchase tickets beforehand in order to avoid standing in line for a long time.
The National September 11 Memorial is the country’s main institution concerned with the event of 9/11. The Memorial offers the opportunity to explore the implications of the happening of 9/11 and its continuing significance. The Memorial is a tribute of honor and remembrance to the 3,000 people killed in the terrorist attacks of September 11 2001 at the World Trade Center, the attack at the Pentagon and the people killed during the World Trade Center bombing in February 1993. The Memorial site is a set of two twin reflecting pools. Each pool is nearly an acre in size. Also, it is considered to be the largest manmade waterfall in Northern America. The pools are located on the footprints where the Twin Towers stood before the 9/11 attack. Peter Walker and Michael Arab were the two architects who designed the Memorial site. The names of every person who died in 1993 and 2001 are inscribed into the panels edging the Memorial waterfalls. The Memorial site also has a museum. The museum was dedicated in 2014 and was opened to the public the same year. The museum includes over 2,000 oral histories of the people killed during the attack and over 20,000 images. Most of the material in the museum is provided by family and friends of those who were killed. The Memorial site is open for everyone and does not need any booking in advance.
Grand Central Terminal, also referred to as Grand Central Station, is a famous New York landmark located in Midtown Manhattan. Grand Central Terminal is one of the busiest train stations in the world and is visited by almost 200,000 commuters on a daily basis. The train station has a total of 44 platforms and is home to some of New York’s greatest restaurants. Most of the train station’s façade in New York is decorated with art statues, gold accents and bronze decorations. The train station is a great location for having a nice walk, enjoying good food and exploring a great number of shops. While all train and metro stations in New York are owned by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, Grand Central Terminal is owned by a private company. Midtown TDR Ventures is the company that owns the train station and is therefore responsible for its renovation and expansion. Moreover, many TV shows and movies have included scenes filmed at Grand Central Terminal since it is one of New York’s unique spots. The Freshman, Step Up 3 and Midnight Run are only a few movies which include a scene at the famous train station.
