Manhattan
Updated: May 10, 2021
"Lower Manhattan is a gate to the nation's history and a bridge to our nation's future."
If I have the chance to take a subway train north or south, I’ll take it south because walking this part of New York City is full of culture, diversity, and feels like walking through a history book.
There's the Statue of Liberty, South Seaport, Financial District, One World Trade, Brooklyn Bridge, Trinity on Wall Street - all of it can be found in one square mile of Lower Manhattan.
With so much to do, I put together a little guide of things to do and how to make the most of your time here:
GETTING THERE
To get here (from any of the 5 boroughs),
Pick a number or letter: 1,2,3,4,5,6,A,C,E, N,Q,R,F,M, J,Z or Staten Island Ferry.
There's not a bad subway stop (unless it's Chambers St.)
YOU'RE HERE!
Grab a bagel and explore
Start the day with the Holy Spirit at Trinity on Wall Street. Listen to the sermons, walk the church or visit the graveyard where Alexander Hamilton is buried next to the church. George Washington rode his horse on these cobblestone streets! Scheduled tours are offered each afternoon. Morning prayer begins at 8:15AM. (Click here for additional service times.)
The front doors of Trinity open into the mouth of Wall Street. Here, the bears and the bulls drive the stock market at NASDAQ, Dow Jones, and SNP500. You can also take a picture with iconic Wall Street bull (or his balls).
This rich, historic neighborhood is home to the nation's great triumphs and tragedies. Here, we had the inauguration of our first President George Washington. Here, is also where the global economy crashed.
THINGS TO DO...
Wall Street Bull - Broadway and Morris Street
National Museum of the American Indian
South Street Seaport Historic District
New York City Police Museum - 45 Wall Street
Museum of American Finance- 48 Wall St, New York, NY 10005
Museum of Jewish Heritage - 36 Battery Pl, New York, NY 10280
Skyscraper Museum - 39 Battery Place, New York, NY 10280
9/11 Memorial- 1 Audrey Zapp Drive, Jersey City, NJ 07305
One World Trade- The 4th Tallest Building in the World.
Whether you're a historian, booze, or wholesome family, there's a cruise for everyone! The Staten Island Ferry is free and offers views of the Statue of Liberty and South Seaport Harbor. The Statue Cruises will take you to Ellis Island and Liberty Island, and of course there's the always enlightening (or sick) booze cruise.
On the other side of the island, there's the Brooklyn Bridge. When you finish seeing everything you want to see in Lower Manhattan, walk to Brooklyn and eat a slice of Grimaldi's Pizza! It's all cardio and beautiful views.
As you can see, there's a lot to do and it might be fair to estimate 2 DAYS or more if you're a museum go-er. In the Summer when everybody's out, there's several outdoor markets in bowling green and city hall. I hope this guide helps your utilize your time to the fullest! Take care and check back soon!