About Staten Island NYC
Staten Island is one of the 5 boroughs of New York City, and is situated on the southwestern part of the city. It is separated from New Jersey by both the Arthur Kill and the Kill Van Kull and other parts of New York City by the New York Bay. Staten Island is noted for being the only borough in this city, which lacks a Hispanic White majority in the context of population. Its North Shore is the most urban area. While the East Shore boasts of the 2.5 miles F.D.R Boardwalk that has the distinction of been the 4th longest of its kind in the globe. Staten Island’s South Shore was previously the site of a 1600s Dutch along with French Huguenot settlement. While its West Shore is the borough’s least populated area, but still the most industrial part of the island.
The first well tabulated European contact occurred in the early 16th century when Italian explorer Giovanni de Verrazzano anchored in Staten Island for a single night in the vessel La Dauphine. The Dutch named the island ‘Staaten Eylandt,’ in honor of the Dutch Parliament, which still bears the same title. Still, they were unable to establish a permanent settlement here for many decades on end. In 1661, the very first Dutch settlement was founded at ‘Oude Dorp,’ which means Old Village, by Dutch, French Huguenot and Waloon families.
Staten Island played a crucial role in the American Revolutionary War, and the British utilized it as a staging ground for invading New York City. In 1776, the British army crossed the Narrows and arrived in Brooklyn to outflank the American forces at the Battle of Long Island. This fight culminated in the former gaining control of the harbor, and ultimately capturing New York City, later on. The Battle of Staten Island was joined in 1777, but came to a standstill, with the American forces then retreating.
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Top attractions
Staten Island boasts of a big and highly diversified wildlife population. This includes white tailed deer and numerous bird species like bald eagles, hawks, turkeys, egrets and even ring necked pheasants. This New York City Borough is as well home to horseshoe crabs, opossums, garter snakes, raccoons, foxes and a number of turtle species. Staten Island also boasts of 1000s of acres of federal, state and local parks. Some of the most notable are the Greenbelt Park, Bluebelt Park and even the Gateway National Recreation Area. The island has privately owned wooden regions too.
The New York Wheel, which is to stand at 625 feet is posed to be the globe’s highest ferris wheel, and is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2019. Numerous artists and musicians have made Staten Island’s North Shore their base thanks to its proximity to Manhattan and its affordable living and working conditions. Filmmakers, many of whom work independently, also play a leading role in the island’s art scene.
The historic Richmond Town in Staten Island is New York City’s living history village, and museum complex. Visitors to Richmond Town get to explore the diversity of American way of life, from the colonial epoch to the present moment. The site of the village is sprawled on a 25 acre parcel of land, and features restored buildings that comprise of residential homes, commercial buildings, civic buildings and the museum. Staten Island as well boasts of the Staten Island Zoo that was first opened to the public in 1936. Other prominent attractions of this New York City Borough include the Snug Harbor Cultural Center, the Conference House, Jacques Marchais Museum of Tibetan Art. Sandy Ground Historical Museum, Staten Island Museum, Staten Island Botanical Garden to name but a few.
Staten Island Museum
The Staten Island Museum has the distinction of being the sole ‘general interest’ museum in the whole of New York City. As such, it showcases a number of exhibits that consist of natural and manmade artifacts, artwork and even historic pieces, This Staten island museum can be the ideal place to discover more on not only the borough itself, but the entire world in general.
Snug Harbor Cultural Center
Nicknamed ‘Sailor’s Snug,’ Snug Harbor Cultural Center was formerly a charitable resting area for sailors during the 19th century. Today, it is an affiliate of the Smithsonian Museum, and comes complete with 28 historic buildings. Besides a museum, this Staten Island top attraction has a working farm, a performing arts venue, artist abodes and a number of schools.
National Lighthouse Museum
Visitors to Staten Island’s National Lighthouse Museum get the golden opportunity to find out more on lighthouses. These iconic structures are used to mark hazardous coastlines, and have enabled sailors to efficiently navigate the world for millennia on end. This museum is now home to about 200 real lighthouses situated in the United States. It as well puts to show a variety of artifacts and components that have being taken from historical lighthouses in the country.
Alice Austen House
Alice Austen was one of the very first women photographers in the United States. Over the course of the mid 19th and mid 20th century, she managed to capture around 8,000 photos. Alice Austen was a radical, and broke the ties from conventional way of life for ladies at that epoch, living as she deemed fit. She was never married, and was the very first lady in Staten Island to purchase her own car. Even at this present moment, Alice Austen serves as a noted role model for numerous women from all over the world. She lived in Clear Comfort from the mid 19th century to the mid 20th century. The house is now listed as a National Historic Landmark, and showcases a range of exhibits on Alice Austen’s life, work and history.
Conference House
Constructed in the late 17th century, Staten Island’s Conference House is named in honor of the famous meeting, which happened on the 11th of September, 1776. This conference was meant to end the American Revolutionary War, but this objective was ultimately not attainable. Benjamin Franklin, John Adams and Edward Rutledge met with Lord Howe, who was the then British commander of forces in the colonies, and tried to sue for peace. The famous meeting culminated with the Founding Fathers of America amicably declining the terms of the British, and the war stretched on for 7 more years. Nowadays, the Conference House puts to show a variety of exhibits on the founding of the United States, and the history of the building itself.
Fort Wadsworth
Fort Wadsworth was constructed in the 17th century by the Dutch, when New York City was still named ‘New Amsterdam’. Ever since that era, this fort has been greatly altered. Yet, due to its strategic location, Fort Wadsworth continued to safeguard the New York Harbor for centuries on end against possible enemy invasions. It was closed in the 1990s, and now serves as one of the most popular tourist attractions in Staten Island. Fort Wadsworth now boasts of numerous knowledgeable rangers who conduct educational tours on the grounds of this ancient military stronghold.
Fresh Kills Park
The Fresh Kills Park was previously the globe’s biggest landfill. However, an iconic project was initiated by the city officials to reclaim the 2,200 acres piece of land. This Staten Island park will be fully completed by 2036, and is destined to feature playgrounds, games facilities along with equestrian trails. When the project comes to an end, Fresh Kills Park will be 3 times much bigger than New York City’s famous Central Park.