The Aquarium About Your Visit Castle Clinton was once again altered, this Today Castle Clinton is a national monument be­ time to become the New York City Aquar­ cause of its historical importance. The walls of the ium. When the Aquarium opened its doors 1811 fort remain intact, while the interior has been on December 10, 1896, some 30,000 people given a new life. Located in Battery Park at the Many New Yorkers can remember spending completed and the old fortress would remain. southern tip of Manhattan, convenient to bus and poured in to see the specimens that came pleasant afternoons visiting the Aquarium, But before the building had received congres­ subway routes, the "castle" is now the main visitor from the waters around New York. As the watching the incredible fish glide effortlessly sional protection, the wrecker's ball had center for the national parks in Manhattan and for through the almost invisible water. Now, as already removed the upper story, roof, and Aquarium became more popular and de­ the Statue of Liberty. veloped admiring friends, ship captains and if by magic, someone has pulled the plug and other additions that had been added in its mid­ yachtsmen based in New York began to Castle Clinton is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. every . taken off the lid, for the water, fish, and dle years. What was left ivhen the National day of the year except Christmas day. Exhibits roof have vanished. Of course, such a trans­ Park Service took over was the basic structure A Landing Place for Immigrants collect interesting and more exotic fish from introduce the site itself as well as other parks in formation did not take place in the twin­ that had begun life back in the early 19th On August 3, 1855, Castle Garden, under around the world for the Aquarium. Manhattan. Information is available at a kiosk on kling of an eye; it is the century. In the summer lease to the State of New York, was opened Thus the collection grew in number and the parade ground; another kiosk is the ticket result of a dogged fight of 1975, after much as an immigrant landing depot. Only a short variety. Many of the aquatic creatures be­ sales outlet for transportation to the Statue of for preservation and a restoration work, Castle time before Castle Garden had been joined Liberty. Outside the building, boats depart for came quite well known with the crowds. A lengthy restoration pro­ Clinton reopened the to the mainland by fill and fenced off from Liberty Island every half-hour during the summer West India harbor seal that swam effort­ cess that has only now doors that had been shut the rest of the Battery. For the first time, the months and every hour for the rest of the year. borne fruit. for 34 years. bewildered immigrants were protected from Accommodations have been made for those with hearing, visual, and mobility impairments. the unsavory characters who had roamed c the open wharves at will to take advantage In 1941 the doors of the Today where fish once Castle Clinton is administered by the National Park of gullible newcomers. Here generally reli­ Aquarium shut for good. swam lazily, where anx­ Service, U.S. Department of the Interior. For fur­ able information about boarding houses, The plans for the Brook­ ious immigrants awaited ther information contact: Superintendent, Manhat­ lyn-Battery Tunnel were entry into the land of travel routes, and fares could be obtained. tan Sites, 26 Wall St., New York, NY 10005. Needed medical attention and an honest firm and the Aquarium their choice, where currency exchange were provided as well as stood in the way. It was audiences cheered a fa­ a chance for employment. Between 1855 an old structure that vorite performer, and ftt/r/fM' BATTERY ,'//,/ HARBOVR YNewTftwt.rfW/ST,' AMBUSCADE FRrGATfi and 1889, more than eight million immi­ seemed to have outlived where lookouts squinted lessly around her tank seemed to take par­ grants—two out of every three persons im­ its usefulness. Powerful voices called for its as they searched for a British invasion fleet ticular delight in the audiences that she migrating to the United States in this period demolition. A group of citizens, intrigued that never came, you can learn the remarkable attracted and gleefully sprayed with a —passed through the Garden. by the structure's history and unwilling to history of this unpretentious fortress. You can mouthful of water. believe that simply because it was old, it was attend a concert, small community festival, useless, fought to save the building. Gain­ a fair, or fust sit on one of the benches in After 1882 as the number of immigrants Once the Aquarium became a part of New ing the ally of time when the United States Battery Park, eating lunch and daydreaming gradually increased, more buildings were Yorkers' lives, a favorite pastime on April entered World War II, they saw their efforts about Castle Clinton in all its various mani­ erected outside the Garden. Brick walls re­ Fool's Day was to leave a message for a rewarded when Congress declared the historic festations. Or you can fust people-watch. placed the wooden fences. Then, on April fellow worker that said: "Mr. Fish called. structure Castle Clinton National Monument It's that kind of place. Enfoy it, the view, and 18, 1890, the last immigrants went through Please cali him back. WHitehall 4-1560." August 12, 1946. The new tunnel would be your daydreams. Castle Garden. With control shifted to the The number was that of the Aquarium. U.S. Superintendent of Immigration, the WW Barge Office became a temporary landing For the millions of visitors the fun came to depot, pending the opening of the newer, an end in 1941 when the doors were closed more commodious center on Ellis Island for good. The fish were taken to Coney National Park Service on January 1, 1892. Island. U.S. DEPARTMENT of the INTERIOR GPO: 1989-242-342/00005 Repnnl 198/ at the tip of Manhattan Island, and the Show Business From the start, Castle Gar­ North Battery at the foot of Hubert Street. Comes to den witnessed extraordinary 'The waters of our bay, the Narrows, the Hudson Castle Clinton events. Within a month after Circular in shape, the South-west Battery In June 1824, its opening, the Marquis de and interesting landscapes are in full view, stood in about 7.7 meters (35 feet) of water, Castle Clinton Lafayette landed here at the with all the bustle of our floating commerce..." 61 meters (200 feet) from shore. A timber was leased by the city start of a year-long triumphal Vista from the walkway atop Castle Clinton as described in causeway with drawbridge connected the as a place of public en­ tour of America. In the years the New York Gazette and General Advertiser, July 3, 1824 new fort to Manhattan. The South-west tertainment. Opened as that followed, many other Battery had 28 guns on one tier. Inside the Castle Garden on July 3, it prominent people were hon­ rounded ends of the rear wall, on the land soon became one of the favored ored at the Garden: Presi­ side, were the magazines. Quarters "places of resort" in New York. dents Andrew Jackson, John A newspaper described the interior as a A lantern of this type, with for the officers were at each side Tyler, and James K. Polk, wooden sides, pierced tin top, of the passageway to the cause­ "fanciful garden, tastefully ornamented with Vice President Richard M. and tin hanging ring, was used to light the passageways and the way. No barracks for the enlisted shrubs and flowers." In time, a great foun­ Johnson, Sen. Henry Clay, officers' quarters. men existed. tain was installed. The Garden was the set­ and the great Hungarian ting for band concerts, fireworks, an occa­ patriot Louis Kossuth. The South-west Battery was com­ sional balloon ascension, and demonstrations Building a Fort pleted in 1811 and fired its first salute of the latest scientific achievements. The In the 1840s, Castle Garden was roofed over Several years before his part­ nership with James ives, Castle Clinton is a product of the Napole­ on Evacuation Day, November 25, the gunrooms, decorated with marble busts and and more serious entertainment was added Nathaniel Currier produced this onic era. The conflict between France and 28th anniversary of the departure of painted panoramas, became a promenade lithograph of Jenny Lind's to the fare. The Garden for the first time debut. A banner in the upper Great Britain plus the English policy of the British from New York at the close and, from boxes seating eight people, a presented opera, in concert form. The 1845 balcony, invisible in this re­ of the American Revolution. Throughout production, says "Welcome seizing American ships and impressing place from which to watch the show. A more season opened with Semiramide and The Sweet Warbler." American seamen into the British Navy pro­ the War of 1812 the fort stood ready, but popular promenade was the top of the Gar­ Barber of Seville. The Garden cellars con­ duced months of tension. The climax came its guns fired at nothing more dangerous den wall, where awnings covered a 4.2-meter tinued to be filled, according to one news­ on June 22, 1807, with the British attack than a harmless hulk moored in the river for (14-foot) walkway. The officers' quarters paper, "with the most delicious fluids so upon the American frigate Chesapeake. In target practice. became a bar selling choice liquors, con­ that the audience may be at once regaled New York, mass meetings denounced the fections, and ices. At the end of the war, the fort became the with the choicest Italian music, and the attack. At the same time, a great "fortifica­ headquarters for the Third Military District most inspiring mint juleps." tion fever" swept the city, for New York, and was named Castle Clinton in honor of Castle Garden can be except for Fort Columbus on Governors A memorable event occurred September 11, seen to the right on DeWitt Clinton, a former mayor of New York Island, was virtually defenseless. 1850, when P. T. Barnum presented the the cover of this sheet City and later governor of New York State. music from 1874. "Swedish Nightingale," Jenny Lind, in her Toward the left is In short order five new forts were built: In 1821 the district headquarters were American debut. More than 6,000 people Castle Williams on moved to Governors Island and Castle Clin­ Governors Island. Fort Wood on Bedloes Island, Fort Gibson The scene on this punch bowl com­ paid at least $3 a seat. At the close of her memorates Lafayette's landing at Castle ton was closed down. Two years later, on Ellis Island, three-tiered Castle Williams Clinton in August 1824. About to begin performance, the audience broke into a on Governors Island, the South-west Battery his 68th year, Lafayette spent the next Castle Clinton was ceded to New York City. "tempest of cheers." 13 months traveling the length and breadth of the country. In his travels, he was made an honorary citizen of var­ Castle Garden had served as a theater for ious states, and given keys to innumer­ The added story and roof sheltered more than a quarter century when its doors able cities. The bowl may have been and protected the crowds who went to made by the American Pottery Co., in Castle Garden for entertainment. closed. It was not the end for the structure, Jersey City, N.J., around 1824. This unusual view from the water was painted about 1850. just the end of an era. New-York Historical Society