Battery Park City in Manhattan in New York County, New York — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Mother Cabrini (1850-1917)
Photographed by Andrew Ruppenstein, May 22, 2022
1. Mother Cabrini Marker
Maria Francesca Xavier Cabrini, known as Mother Cabrini, was an Italian-American who worked tirelessly to improve the lives of orphans, immigrants and other disadvantaged New Yorkers. In 1889, she arrived in New York on a mission to help Italian migrants, and went on to found 67 orphanages, schools and hospitals in New York and around the world. In 1946, she became the first naturalized United States citizen to be canonized a saint.
Her Paper Boat
As a young girl, Mother Cabrini made paper boats, filled them with violets, and set them off in a stream as her "missionaries." The paper boat serves as a symbol of hope and courage. Although fragile and delicate, it can hold against the water's currents and stay afloat - symbolizing Mother Cabrini's journey to America, her steadfastness in the face of adversity, and her unflinching commitment to helping her fellow immigrants.
Erected 2020 by City of New York; memorial designed and sculpted by Jill Burkee and Giancarlo Biagi.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Charity & Public Work • Education • Religion & Religious Structures
this page online
Location. 40° 42.397′ N, 74° 1.138′ W. Marker is in Manhattan, New York, in New York County. It is in Battery Park City. It is on Battery Park City Esplanade west of 1st Place. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 36 Battery Pl, New York NY 10280, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in New York City. It is also in the American Northeast, in the Mid-Atlantic, and on the Eastern Seaboard. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region, North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Netherland and also one of the original Thirteen Colonies.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Battery Park City Employees Memorial (within shouting distance of this marker); History of New Pier 1 (approx. 0.2 miles away); The Downtown Athletic Club (approx. 0.2 miles away); Bulkhead Line Est. by Dept. of Docks in 1871 (approx. 0.2 miles away); History of Pier A (approx. 0.2 miles away); American Merchant Mariners' Memorial
Photographed by Andrew Ruppenstein, May 22, 2022
2. Mother Cabrini statue and marker
Other markers no longer nearby. A Floating Metropolis / Sailings, Sightings and Special Events (was about 500 feet away, measured in a direct line but has been permanently removed); Battery Timeline (was about 500 feet away but has been permanently removed); A Field Guide of New York Harbor/The Age of Sail (was about 500 feet away but has been permanently removed); Ferries, Tugs and Tall Ships / Along the Western Shore (was about 500 feet away but has been permanently removed); Statue of Liberty / Ellis Island (was approx. 0.2 miles away but has been confirmed missing).
Also see . . .
1. Mother Cabrini Memorial (Battery Park City Authority).
Excerpt: "Mother Cabrini was originally buried in West Park and is now interred at the St. Frances Cabrini Shrine in Manhattan, which she founded. In 1946, nearly 30 years after her death, Mother Cabrini became the first naturalized U.S. citizen(Submitted on May 26, 2022.)to be canonized. She is recognized as the patron saint of immigrants. Several academic institutions, religious buildings and hospitals across New York are named after her....The Mother Cabrini Memorial was dedicated on October 12, 2020 and is located in Battery Park City just south of South Cove, along the Battery Park City Esplanade. With a direct view of both the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, this area provides a fitting location to pay tribute to the patroness of immigrants. The Memorial site is an open plaza which allows for full interaction with the statue and interpretive panels which highlight key moments in Mother Cabrinis life. The plaza is surrounded by seating and a mosaic created with stones from Mother Cabrinis birthplace of SantAngelo Lodigiano, Italy."Photographed by Andrew Ruppenstein, May 22, 20223. Mother Cabrini statue - front viewThe inscription on the base reads: Maria Francesca Cabrini - Mother Frances Cabrini, 1850-1917
Italian American who dedicated her life to children, immigrants and the needy, in New York and the world
2. Frances Xavier Cabrini (Wikipedia).
"Frances Xavier Cabrini M.S.C. (Italian: Francesca Saverio Cabrini; July 15, 1850 December 22, 1917), also called Mother Cabrini, was an Italian-American Roman Catholic nun. She founded the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, a Catholic religious institute that was a(Submitted on May 26, 2022.)major support to her fellow Italian immigrants to the United States. She was the first U.S. citizen to be canonized as a saint by the Roman Catholic Church, on July 7, 1946. (Elizabeth Ann Seton in 1975 became the first canonized saint who was born in what is now the United States.)"Photographed by Andrew Ruppenstein, May 22, 20224. Mother Cabrini statue - side view
3. BPCA Presents: Public Art on Video Mother Cabrini Memorial (YouTube, 6 min.). (Submitted on May 26, 2022.)
May 22, 2022
5. Sculpture base panel: Sant Angelo Lodigiano, July 15, 1850 - White Doves Fill the Sky...
Full caption: Sant Angelo Lodigiano, July 15, 1850 - White doves fill the sky over Agostino Cabrini's farm. Maria Francesca is born.
May 22, 2022
6. Sculpture base panel: New York City, March 31, 1889 - Mother Cabrini and six sisters
Full caption: New York City, March 31, 1889 - Mother Cabrini and six sisters arrive at Castle Garden, Manhattan, greeted by Felice Morelli, St. Joachim Church.
Photographed by Larry Gertner, October 7, 2025
7. Mother Cabrini (1850-1917)
After being exiled for years due to construction, the statue returned to its original site, though that area is still not completed.
Credits. This page was last revised on October 8, 2025. It was originally submitted on May 26, 2022, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California. This page has been viewed 939 times since then and 37 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on May 26, 2022, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California. 7. submitted on October 8, 2025, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.
