New York 1—Appendixes
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APPENDICES CASTLE GARDEN meters above the surface of the water, sixty-one meters off the Although what is of interest coast; it was connected to the for the purpose of this book is latter by means of a multi-span essentially the function that bridge, which gave access to this building had as a theater - the fortress. The latter was for some ten years around never attacked during the war 1850 (when it was known as against the English. Said war Castle Garden) - one must ended in 1814 with the Treaty nonetheless bear in mind that it of Ghent (Belgium), which was originally a fortress, sanctioned the freedom of seas. known as West Battery, subse- Immediately thereafter, quently renamed Castle West Battery became the seat Clinton (currently its name). of the Third Military District’s Castle Garden in a Precisely, the fortress was headquarters, which was run lithograph dated 1850 one of the five built in the pe- by General Winfield Scott riod between 1808 and 1811, from 1816 until 1820. The for- when a system for the defense tress was thus renamed Castle of the area of New York was Clinton, in honor of DeWitt set up to fend off the attacks of Clinton, already Mayor of New the English fleet which, ever York, and, subsequently, Gov- since 1807, had begun to as- ernor of the State of New sault and capture American York. However, in 1821, the ships. foregoing headquarters were The fortress was inaugu- transferred to Governors Island rated under the name of West and, in March of the following Battery (subsequently South- year, the building was turned West Battery) on 25 November over to the City of New York 1811, the twenty-eighth anni- with an act of Congress. versary of Evacuation Day, The building remained un- that is to say when the English used for a couple of years, un- troops definitively abandoned til the municipality decided to New York. It was built 7.7 lease it out for various events 288 Antonio Meucci and theatrical performances. years before, it had been joined Thus, Castle Clinton was re- to the dry land by means of named Castle Garden, and was extensive filling works, aimed opened on 3 July 1824, its to extend the area of the south- interior decked with a variety ern section of Manhattan, of flowers and a large fountain known as the Battery, towards at the center. It was the venue the sea. Some immigrants had of concerts, fireworks displays, already landed at the Battery sometimes aerostatical ascents even before Castle Garden was or demonstrations of scientific turned into an immigration inventions. Furthermore, center. It is worth highlighting welcoming ceremonies in that prior to that time (1850s), honor of important celebrities, there had been no significant such as the Marquis of restrictions on immigration to Lafayette, President Andrew the United States. Jackson, and many others, The State of New York were held there. deemed it necessary to provide In 1844, Castle Garden was a public structure, also to pro- completely covered and used tect the immigrants from all for the representation of major sorts of people who would take performances, opera in par- advantage of them, on the ticular, and it thus became the prowl for unwary immigrants city’s largest and most impor- traveling third class on the tant opera house. Such per- ships arriving from Europe. On formances began in 1845 with the contrary, the wealthy first the operas “Semiramide” and and second class travelers were “Barbiere di Siviglia.” The generally welcomed at the night of 11 September 1850 is piers, reserved for the various remembered as the most navigation companies, by memorable event, featuring the friends or relatives, who saved debut of Jenny Lind, known as them from the assaults of ex- the Swedish nightingale, which ploiters. Castle Garden, immigration attracted an enthusiastic au- After the so-called Emi- center, after 1855 dience of six thousand, who grant Landing Depot & Offices paid a ticket of at least $3 (just “Castle Garden” was opened, to get in), filling up the cash every day thousands of Euro- boxes of Miss Lind’s agent, the peans were diverted from New famous P. T. Barnum. York’s various piers to Castle On 3 August 1855, Castle Garden. Here they were regis- Garden ceased operating as a tered, they could change cur- theater and was leased out by rency, purchase rail tickets, get the City to the State of New honest information on housing York, which turned it into an and job opportunities, and also immigration center. A few receive medical assistance, if New York 289 necessary. But once out of Castle Garden was closed once Castle Garden, the immigrants again, awaiting a new destina- were confronted by all sorts of tion. people ready to take advantage On 12 August 1946, The of them. United States Congress pro- It was estimated that, in the claimed Castle Garden, re- thirty-five years during which named with its old name, Cas- Castle Garden was in opera- tle Clinton, a national monu- tion, two thirds of all immi- ment. However, it was only grants who landed in the thirty-four years later, in the United States transited through summer of 1975, that Castle said center, for a total of some Clinton was opened to the pub- eight million people. In 1882, lic, following huge restoration on account of ever increasing work. immigration into the country, it As one can behold still to- was necessary to expand the day, the outside walls have center, hence other buildings been preserved quite intact, were erected next to Castle with their characteristic red Garden. A few years later, a bricks. Instead, the interior was more modern and functional completely restored. In it there center was set up at Ellis is also a box office where tick- Island, which was no longer ets are sold for the boat ride to run by the State of New York the Statue of Liberty. Upon but by the US Superintendent entering, to the right of the of Immigration. It was opened large door, visitors can access on 1 January 1892, and served a room with three large show- its purpose until 1943. cases containing relief models As soon as Castle Garden of the building, corresponding was vacated, New York City to the three periods: 1812, decided to transform it into an 1886 and 1941. Above the aquarium. Initially, it show- showcases are fifteen pictures cased all the species of fish and drawings with interesting that teemed the waters sur- captions. Castle Clinton is rounding the city. Later, it perfectly looked after by the featured fish species from all Superintendent, Manhattan parts of the world. Some thirty Sites of the National Park thousand visitors were present Service, US Department of the at its inauguration, on 10 De- Interior. cember 1896. Later too, in the course of its forty-five years of Chronology life, it continued to attract a 1807, 22 June - The English attack the great deal of visitors. In 1941, American frigate Chesapeake. In New the Aquarium was transferred York the decision is made to build five fortresses for the defense of the to Coney Island and the former area 290 Antonio Meucci 1808 - Work begins for the construc- works, aimed to extend the area of the tion of fort West Battery (later called Battery southward South-West Battery), at the southern 1882 - Other buildings are erected tip of Manhattan around Castle Garden, owing to 1811, 25 November - The fortress is growing immigration completed and inaugurated 1890, 18 April - The last immigrants 1814 - The war against the English transit through Castle Garden. Control ends with the Treaty of Ghent, which on immigration passes over to the sanctions the freedom of seas Federal Office, which provides for the 1815 - Fort West Battery becomes the construction of a new center at Ellis seat of the headquarters of the Third Island Military District and is renamed 1892, 1 January - The new immigra- Castle Clinton tion center is inaugurated at Ellis Is- 1821 - The headquarters of the Third land, which remains operational until Military District are transferred to 1943 Governors Island and Castle Clinton 1896, 10 December - Castle Garden is is closed turned into an Aquarium 1822, March - Castle Clinton is turned 1941 - The Aquarium is transferred to over to New York City with an act of Coney Island and Castle Garden is US Congress closed once again 1824, June - New York Municipality 1946, 12 August - The US Congress decides to lease out Castle Clinton for proclaims Castle Clinton a national public events. On 3 July it opens monument under the name of Castle Garden 1975, Summer - Following major 1844 - Castle Garden is completely restoration work, Castle Clinton is covered and becomes the city’s larg- opened to the public and remains so est opera house. The 1845 season until the present day opens with “Semiramide” and “Il Barbiere di Siviglia.” On 11 Septem- ber 1850, the famous impresario P. T. Barnum introduces Jenny Lind, the Swedish nightingale, who makes her Bibliography debut and achieves unprecedented (Editorial) Castle Garden, The Staten success Island Historian, 1945?, Copy kept in 1855, 3 August - New York Munici- the archives of the Staten Island pality turns Castle Garden over to the Historical Society. State of New York, which transforms National Park Service, Castle Clinton it into an immigration center. A few (leaflet), US Department of the years before, it had been joined to the Interior, National Park Service, 1990 dry land by means of extensive filling New York 291 GIUSEPPE GARIBALDI who wanted him to become a priest.