The Battery imagery

The Battery

A 25-acre historic park on the southern tip of Manhattan

THINGS TO DO

History, horticulture, recreation, entertainment, River to River Music Festival, Music at Castle Clinton, Evening Under the Stars (dance).

Interested in what's currently blooming at the Battery? Go to Battery Blooms to find out!

For all ages; handicapped-accessible


Cradle of New York's Independence

Though American independence was declared on July 4, 1776, New York City remained occupied by the British for the entire seven years of the Revolutionary War -- longer than any American city. Not until November 25, 1783, did General George Washington liberate New York. His triumphant march on horseback culminated at the Battery -- an array of cannons -- where citizens and soldiers alike awaited a thirteen-gun salute, one for each colony, signaling that the Union Jack had been replaced with the Stars and Stripes.

On the day of Washington's Inauguration, April 30, 1789, the cannons boomed again, awakening America's first capitol city.

The Battery is where Dutch settlers landed in 1623 and established New Amsterdam. One of New York City's oldest public open spaces, it is also the front lawn of the Downtown district and a hub of harbor access and cultural tourism. Over five million people, including residents, office workers, school groups, and tourists from around the world annually visit this 25-acre park and its major landmark, Castle Clinton National Monument. Special features include:

  • Castle Clinton National Monument – The Battery's major landmark, Castle Clinton has played many roles in the history of New York for over 200 years. Owned and administered by the National Park Service, it is the centerpiece of the Conservancy's revitalization efforts. There is no better example of historic adaptive reuse than Castle Clinton/Castle Garden. Enriched by all of its past roles in history, it now has the potential to welcome, educate, and inspire visitors about the Battery's history and to become a hub to orient visitors to the constellation of attractions in Lower Manhattan, the Harbor and the Hudson Valley. The Castle currently houses the ticket offices for boats to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. The Castle also hosts the educational exhibit, Walls within Walls. The exhibit displays a temporary installation of the 18th-century battery sea walls that were discovered along the park perimeter during MTA excavation of the new South Ferry subway and identified and documented by the MTA's on-site archaeologist.
  • The Gardens of Remembrance – Ten thousand square feet of perennial plants and native grasses were planted along the upper promenade as a tribute to those who lost their lives on September 11th, the survivors, and all who come seeking renewed hope and optimism. World-renowned Dutch plantsman Piet Oudolf designed the gardens as part of his horticultural master plan for the Battery.
  • The Battery Bosque – Also part of Oudolf's horticultural master plan, the Battery Bosque is a 4-acre downtown oasis of perennials, native grasses and 110 London plan trees. Two food kiosks will begin offering healthy and fresh foods this spring, and musical wind pipes and dance chimes delight young and old alike.
  • The Battery Springs – Located within the Battery Bosque is a fantastic 60-foot, at-grade fountain. Thirty-five water spouts spiral in toward the center of the fountain, shooting upwards of 12 to 15 feet and providing cooling relief during New York City's hot summer months.
  • Upper and Lower Promenades – The waterfront promenades were completed in 1998. Benches of Stoney Creek granite (from the same quarry as the base of the Statue of Liberty) greet visitors to the park and offer a beautiful place to relax while gazing out at the 11,000 acres of New York Harbor. The Battery's first public art initiative, The River That Flows Two Ways, by artist Wopo Holup, was unveiled on June 5, 2000. Thirty-seven panels of this permanent public artwork are set into the Seawall railing. The project details the ecological and human history of the Battery and the Hudson from the glacial age to the present.
  • The Battery Labyrinth for Contemplation – The Battery Labyrinth for Contemplation was created to commemorate the one-year anniversary of the World Trade Center tragedy. It offers the public a way to reflect, honor and heal. It is a walking path outlined with 1,148 granite blocks that forms seven circular rings. It runs approximately 358 feet to the center core and then 358 out again to the entrance.

The Battery is being rebuilt and revitalized by The Battery Conservancy, in partnership with agencies at the Federal, State and City levels. The next five years are crucial to the Battery, with exciting projects such as the Battery Bikeway (connecting the Hudson River Park bikeway to the East River Esplanade), SeaGlass, the Carousel at the Battery, a new expanded playground and the final landscaping of the Town Green and Lawn all on the horizon.