New York in New York County, New York — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Ferries, Tugs and Tall Ships/Along the Western Shore
Left:
Ferries, Tugs and Tall Ships
Not so long ago, New Yorkers travelling overseas left from passenger terminals located on Manhattan’s west side piers. Steamship lines owned their own terminals, and the arrivals and departures of great ships were occasions for celebration. Although passenger ship traffic through the Port of New York has dwindled to a trickle since its heyday, the city’s waters still play host to a colorful parade of vessels, from stately tall ships to powerful tugboats towing strings of barges laden with everything from gasoline to garbage. Ferries ply back and forth between Manhattan and Liberty, Ellis and Staten Island; Circle Line excursion boats carry cargos of sight-seeing tourists and gleaming cruise liners come and go with staterooms full of vacationers; and fleets of sleek pleasure craft take to the water in warm weather.
Right:
Along the Western Shore
Once a gritty, industrial landscape, New Jersey’s Hudson River shoreline has been transformed in recent years. The development of Liberty State Park in Jersey City (home to the Liberty Science Center, directly across from Battery Park City) and several new high-rise office towers has dramatically reshaped the skyline. Most of the new buildings are office complexes, giving the region a corporate character. Others are residential developments
with breath-taking views of Manhattan. One lingering legacy of the area’s manufacturing past is the enormous Colgate clock, 50 ft. in diameter with its minute hand alone weighing 2,200 lbs. The clock is all that remains of a once-bustling plant, but long-time New Yorkers still recall the smell of soap wafting across the river.
Location. 40° 42.311′ N, 74° 1.105′ W. Marker is in New York, New York, in New York County. Marker can be reached from Battery Place near Robert F. Wagner Jr. Park, on the right when traveling south. The marker is one of four atop the viewing platform of the Robert J. Wagner Jr. Park pavilion. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: New York NY 10280, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. A Field Guide of New York Harbor/The Age of Sail (here, next to this marker); Battery Timeline (here, next to this marker); A Floating Metropolis/Sailings, Sightings and Special Events (a few steps from this marker); History of New Pier 1 (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Statue of Liberty/Ellis Island (was about 400 feet away but has been reported missing. ); History of Pier A (about 400 feet away); American Merchant Mariners' Memorial (about 500 feet away); New York Korean War Veterans Memorial (about 600 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in New York.
Categories. • Industry & Commerce • Waterways & Vessels •
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Credits. This page was last revised on June 1, 2019. This page originally submitted on May 21, 2019, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York. This page has been viewed 49 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on May 21, 2019, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York. 7, 8. submitted on June 1, 2019, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.