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New York New YorkINTRODUCTION New York City is one of the most famous destinations in the United States. This city is known for being both intimidating and eccentric. It combines history, culture with all the excitement expected of "The City That Never Sleeps." Whoever you are, whatever your dreams, you can find your place in The Big Apple?. One of the most important cultural and financial centers in the United States, New York is commonly the first destination for first-time visitors to the states. This exciting city offers something for every type of person, making it one of the most intriguing cities in the world. NYC is home of the five boroughs Brooklyn, Queens, Staten Island, The Bronx and Manhattan. Each borough, already unique in its characteristics, can then be broken down further into smaller communities and areas also with their own distinct feel, demographic and aesthetic. HISTORY Ellis Island, actually part of both New York and New Jersey, was the destination for many immigrants to the United States around the late 1800's to around 1950. Many settled in the New York City area creating ethnic neighborhoods from which now famous places like Chinatown and Little Italy sprung. Prior to the arrival of European explorers, the land now occupied by New York City was inhabited by the Lenape First Nations tribe (later known as the Delaware Indians). In 1524, Italian explorer Giovanni da Verrazzano arrived while serving the French monarchy, and referred to the land as Nouvelle Angoulême. 101 years later, in 1625, the Dutch founded a settlement they called New Amsterdam, on what is now the southern tip of Manhattan island. One year later, the island was purchased from the Lenape (though the rumored pride of 24$ worth of glass beads has been disproved). By the end of the 17th century, the First nations residential population had diminished from around 5,000 to only 200. In 1664, the English took control of the settlement, renaming it New York, after the Duke of York and Albany. By the end of the Second Anglo-Dutch War in 1667, the Dutch peaceably left the island in British hands in return for the more lucrative East Indies island known as Run. Under British rule, New Amsterdam became a prominent trade port, and the population began to grow. By the mid 18th century, the population had grown so much that a university was founded (King’s College in 1754, which would become Columbia College in 1784), the first college in New York. In 1700, the now historic Federal Hall was first built to serve as New York’s city hall. The building would be the site of the inauguration of the first President of the United States. Historic Greenwich Village was founded in 1712, as Grin'wich. Legendary general and future President of the United States George Washington came to New York in 1776, with what would become known as the New York and New Jersey campaign, a series of battles within the larger American Revolutionary War (1775–1783). British forces took the south end of the island in September, driving American forces into Harlem Heights. By the end of the year, the British controlled the island, driving Washington’s forces into New Jersey. With severely low moral, Washington launched his now legendary crossing of the Delaware on Christmas Day, 1776, capturing many enemy troops. The victory, a much needed boost to the moral of Washington’s army, led to more defeats of British forces, including Princeton and Morristown, New Jersey. British forces would occupy the city until November, 1783. In 1789, history was made when the Continental Congress met in New York to decide who would become the first President of the United States. On April 30, 1789, George Washington took the Oath of Office at Wall Street‘s historic Federal Hall, serving two terms as President. In 1788, New York officially became the newly formed nation’s first capital an honor it would fill until the title was transferred to Philadelphia in 1790. Into the early years of the 19th century, New York’s status as an economic powerhouse grew. The Erie Canal opened in 1825 (constructed between 1819 and that year), connecting the Great Lakes with the Atlantic Ocean. The increased transportation and trade potential led increased growth in New York, as well as surrounding towns. The canal allowed for greater trade between central America and European nations, and secured the city’s financial (and social) position. The city began to grow. Estimates suggest that by the mid 1800s, New York supported approximately 95% of American born residents. The city’s prosperity also attracted an influx of immigrants. The Irish, for example, flocked to the island during the Irish Potato Famine. Yellow Fever struck the settlement in 1822, causing many residents to flee to the safety of Greenwich Village. The appeal of the area led many to stay. The growth led to the rise of the American Bohemian, taking inspiration from the Bohemian movement popular in France. In 1826, the city purchased the land that would become historic Washington Square Park, which was at the time used as a burial ground. The park would be the site of a memorial arch commemorating Washington’s first term as President. The original wood arch, unveiled in 1889, was replaced with a marble arch in 1892. The city opened its first underground transit system in 1869. The bohemian revolution changed the nature, and culture of the growing city. Life was characterized by counter cultural philosophies popular with emerging artists, such as open sexuality and anti-materialism. Visual artists, actors, writers and musicians flocked to the Village, establishing a reputation that continues to modern day. The rising Irish population supported the election of the first Tammany Mayor in 1854, who began serious efforts to restructure and expand the city. By then, New York had already become the largest city in the country. In 1857, New York State instigated a design competition that resulted in the development of Central Park. The park was officially completed in 1783, and included more than 1,500 species of trees and plants (said to total more than four million in all). In spite of a short lived crime wave, recent efforts to maintain the park have increased safety to the extend that Central Park is now one of the safest urban parks in the world. It is home to several man made lakes, pathways and sculptures, including one of the world’s three “Cleopatra’s Needle” obelisks (the other two are in London, England and Paris, France) and the “Strawberry Fields” John Lennon memorial, across from the Dakota Apartments where the cultural icon and music legend was murdered. The 1850s saw the formation of several prominent professional sports teams, such as the Brooklyn Dodgers, who moved to Los Angeles in 1957. The city suffered during the American Civil War of 1861-65. Several prominent financial interests lay with the south, and support was divided between Union and Confederacy. The situation let to the New York Draft Riots, during the summer of 1863, sparked by discontent with the Civil War. By the end of the riots, several thousand residents were injured and the city suffered more than one million dollars damage. The Apollo Hall, later the Apollo Theatre, opened in the 1860s. The theater would later become instrumental in African American culture and equality. Even still, the popularity of new life in the west continued to attract foreign interests. New York became a stepping stone for countless migrants. So many in fact that the migration was marked by the unveiling of the Statue of Liberty in 1886. Unfortunately, New York became a hotbed for discrimination, virtual slave wages and some of the worst living conditions in American history. Crime rates rose, and the city’s reputation suffered. These events continue to inspire, having been immortalized as recently as in the award winning 2002 Martin Scorsese film Gangs of New York. The 20th Century By the end of the 1800s, several of New York’s districts joined together to form the Five Boroughs (a title that is still used to distinguish all of New York City from Manhattan itself). The boroughs included The Bronx (Bronx County), Brooklyn (Kings County), Manhattan (New York County), Queens (Queens County) and Staten Island (Richmond County, and originally the borough of Richmond until the name was changed in 1975). The population boom brought tragedy in 1904, when a steam ship caught fire on the East River, claiming the lives of more than 1,000 immigrants seeking a better live in America. Within a few years, the garment district in historic Greenwich Village suffered the largest tragedy in the city’s long history, when almost 150 workers lost their lives in the Shirtwaist Factory Fire of 1911. The fire led the city to radically modify its outdated fire and building codes. Also in 1904, the first line of the modern subway opened, now the IRT (Interborough Rapid Transit Company) Ninth Avenue Line. New York prospered in the first few decades of the 1900s, seeing rapid growth in both population and infrastructure. Several new transit lines opened, and the first skyscrapers were built. Modern industry helped the city survive the turbulent Prohibition era, and by 1925 New York had become the largest urban center in the world. In September 1920, a bomb exploded in front of a bank on Wall Street, claiming 38 lives. No one was ever caught for the crime. Rapid changes gave birth to several movements, including the influential Harlem Renaissance of the 1920s and 30s. the movement saw a strongly segregated society supporting artistic and educational efforts of African Americans, who found new means of expression through arts and social sciences. In spite of heavy racist sentiment, Europeans and Caucasian Americans began to openly support African heritage and modern African American culture. The stock market crashed in 1929, sparking a long standing debate as to whether the crash instigated the subsequent Great Depression or simply happened at that time. What is irrefutable is that the crash signaled the beginning of a long period of economic downturn that would change the way Americans managed financial resources forever. The city suffered during the First World War and the following Great Depression, when labor shortages saw many out of work. Newly formed labor unions helped secure the future of those who could work, and New York managed to support the construction of some of the worlds most impressive buildings, including the New York landmark the Empire State Building. Trade suffered during the Second World War, when German U-boats affected ocean trade routes. New York rebounded strongly in the post war years, and gained even more prominence on the world stage. The United Nations established its headquarters in the city, built between 1947 and 1952. The Manhattan skyline was extensively developed, By the 1950s, Greenwich Village culture had evolved into what became known as the Beat Generation, through which Americans disillusioned with the modern society found a voice. The Beat culture spawned new philosophies, largely through the works of such prolific icons as Allen Ginsberg, William S Burroughs and Jack Kerouac (still widely read today). Bohemian culture is often described as an early, east coast predecessor to the Hippie movement of 1960’s California. Greenwich Village once again came to prominence during the counter culture movement of the 1960s, inspiring artists from Bob Dylan to Barbara Streisand. Alternative lifestyle became the staple, and changed the nation. In addition to revolutionary artistic expression, the village also became known for alternative rights. In fact, historic Stonewall Inn, built in the mid 1800s, was the site of a series of riots that have since become seen as the start of the movement towards gay rights. The financial district began to exert greater influence once again, marked with the construction of such landmarks as One Chase Manhattan Plaza, opened in 1961 under the direction of the Rockefeller family. The new York Mets played their first season in 1962, having grown out of the New York Metropolitans baseball team formed in the 1880s. Shea Stadium opened in 1964, the current home of the New York Mets. The city suffered a black out in 1965, part of a larger blackout that hit much of the eastern coast. The World Trade Center opened in 1972, eclipsing the Empire State Building as the world’s tallest. Equal Rights once again became a major issue in the city, with protesters rioting in the mid through late 1960s. Rising civil unrest led to an increase in crime, with severely damaged the city’s reputation. The situation was not helped by the suffering economy, and New York approached bankruptcy. A blackout hit in 1977, and that summer the city endured one of its worst moments. The `Son of Sam` murders shocked the nation, and held the population of New York in a state of constant fear. As of the new millennium, the case unofficially remains open, even though one suspect confessed to and was convicted of several of the murders. In the face of these mounting troubles, many of the residents left. The city began to turn around through the 1980s, enjoying a strong investment market and reduction in unemployment, in spite of strong racial tensions and continued homelessness. New York made history in the mid to late 80s, first with the first of several laws banning discrimination of gay residents, and again with the election of the city’s first black mayor, David Dinkins. In 1993, the World Trade Center took center stage as the site of a vicious car bombing intended to destroy both towers. Six died and more than 1,000 were injured. The attack is believed to have been financed by al-Qaeda members. Al-Qaeda would return in September, 2001, when two intercontinental jetliners were hijacked and flown into the towers. In one of the worst moments in American history, both towers collapsed, claiming 3,000 lives. The attack shocked the world, and the city went into mourning. The tragedy inspired the now famous Tribute in Light. New York in the new millennium has risen above it recent tragedies, and set its sights on the future. Several major construction projects signal a dramatic change in the city’s image, marked by lowering crime and increased economic stability. KNOW BEFORE YOU GO The most densely populated city in America, New York is home to over 12.6 million people. Obviously, such a populous region requires a fantastic public transportation system as well as efficient organization for locals and visitors alike to not get lost. The majority of Manhattan is set up like a grid with avenues running north and south and streets running east and west. Here is another quick but crucial tip. Houston, a street that divides Nolita and the LES, and SoHo and the West Village, is pronounced House-ton. Pronouncing it Houston, like as in Texas, is sure to give you up as a tourist. Also, make sure you always carry a map of the subway systems with you, no matter how well you think you know them. Constant construction makes detours a regular event. Even if you forget your map, subway stations and trains have maps displayed, and you can often find one from a token clerk. New York is one of the safest cities in the world despite its size, but as with any city safety is always an issue to be aware of. Women traveling alone should look as inconspicuous as possible and avoid dark areas. Grown men should be aware of crime too, as they are victims often as well. While visiting this amazing city, it is important to keep your wits about you and use your street smarts at all times. ATTRACTIONS The Statue of Liberty Ellis Island Central Park Madison Square Garden Empire State Building Museum Of Modern Art Fifth Avenue St. Patrick Cathedral Chinatown Little Italy Grand Central Station Times Square Metropolitan Museum of Art Canal Street Washington Square Park St. Mark's Place Bryant Park Staten Island Ferry PS 122 42nd Street Toys R Us There are plenty more things to do in the city of New York, NY. Look at some of these specialized tours: New York - Sex and the City Style RESTAURANTS Serendipity 3 Yum Dale and Thomas Popcorn Nolita House LODGING 
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