Four Historic Sites in Lower Manhattan

[Flickr/p_a_h]

New York certainly has its share of restaurants and boutiques du jour that come in and out of fashion faster than skinny ties. But it’s also a fascinating place for history fans, since it’s one of the oldest cities in the United States. These four spots in Lower Manhattan are must-sees for anyone interested in the past.

Federal Hall: A National Park Service administered memorial, this Greek revival – or more accurately Federal style – building at 26 Wall Street was, in 1789, home to the first United States Congress and is also where George Washington was sworn in as president, when New York was, for a short time, the capital of the young United States. Open Mon.-Fri., 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Stay at Gild Hall, five blocks away.

Ground Zero: A much more recent – and more somber – addition to the roster of historic places in New York, the site of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks is nevertheless a popular tourist destination. It remains in a constant state of flux – politics and financial bickering continue to impede rebuilding efforts – but a constant is nearby St. Paul’s Chapel, at 209 Broadway since 1766, where search and rescue teams rested between shifts in the wake of the attacks. St. Paul’s open Mon.-Sat., 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; Sun. 7 a.m.-6 p.m. Stay at Millenium Hilton, adjacent to Ground Zero.

South Street Seaport Museum: The highlight of this museum is its collection of historic ships, ranging from wrought iron cargo vessels to wooden tug boats to fully-rigged schooners. The lightship Ambrose is an icon of the seaport, and worked in the waters off New York from 1908 until 1963. Open April-Dec., Tue.-Sun., 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; Jan.-March, Fri.-Mon., noon-4 p.m. Stay at Gild Hall, four blocks away.

Governors Island: This former US Coast Guard station is now part public park and part National Monument, thanks to the turn-of-the-19th-century Fort Jay and Castle Williams. Visitors can also tour the commanding officer’s residence that, in 1988, hosted a Reagan, Gorbachev and Bush summit. Open Fri.-Sun., May-October, with access by free ferry from Battery Maritime Building at 10 South St. Stay at The Ritz-Carlton New York Battery Park, a 10-minute walk from the ferry terminal.