Battery Park brings wonderful memories of celebrating the 4th of July there with my family when my dad worked on Water Street. It was a little disappointing not to be able to see the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island due to the weather. According to the Blue Guide (46), it is filled land and the location of where the City’s history began (nycgovparks.gov). I knew this park had a lot of memorials dedicated to people, countries, and events, but apparently I’ve discovered many more with my ‘grown-up’ eyes. Despite the weather, it was fun to walk along the Esplanade.
A building I didn’t realize existed is the Museum of the American Indian. This may be because it became a satellite space of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian, in Washington, D. C., in 1989 (BG, 44)…I left the home I love in 1987. What was formerly the Alexander Hamilton Customs House is a beautiful structure with murals depicting the history of shipping and trade. What I also appreciated where the depictions of the great explorers. I could just imagine the loud hustle and bustle of commerce conducted in the hall.
We went to the Skyscraper Museum to investigate the history of skyscrapers in New York City. The museum was a little disappointing in that it was small and the exhibit depicted international buildings. It was interesting, however, to read early newspaper articles about the Twin Towers.
Visiting the Skyscraper Museum was a good precursor to where we traveled next, the World Financial Center. The building that is home to many businesses and the Winter Garden, a beautiful atrium of palm trees, was severely damaged during the 9/11 attacks. According to the Blue Guide (61), it was a place of refuge and exit for the many people who fled the towers. There is a ground level installation showing the timeline of the rise, fall and rebuilding of the World Trade Center I must return to see (BG, 61).
After we viewed the construction from inside the World Financial Center, we walked through the Irish Hunger Memorial, which commemorates the primary reason why so many Irish people immigrated to the U.S., the Irish potato famine. Stones had been collected from Ireland to build this beautiful memorial that. According to the Blue Guide (63), an 1838 ruined stone cottage was donated by artist Brian Tolle’s family. It was so fitting to visit this site on this rainy day.
We then went to the Poet’s House where thousands of books on poetry have been donated by poets for collection. It was striking to learn that approximately one thousand books are donated for their annual exhibit. The Constance Laibe Hays Children’s Room is not only filled with poetry for children but it’s an exhibit of antique school desks, chairs, rotary phones and manual typewriters. We were encouraged to select a book from the vast collection of publications on the 2nd floor and make copies of any verse that interested us. At random, I walked down an aisle and found a book entitled Songs of Love and Wind by Luis Horacio Duran. Naturally, the title drew me to open the book. Another interesting discovery was that the book is bi-lingual. The references of nature within its pages spoke to me, once again reminding me of the many facets of my life:
That is why I know I am from of you,
And from your air,
From your passion of sand and mountain,
Your utter silence
And the whirling of your waters. - Luis Horacio Duran, 1992
Since the weather was getting worse, we took the train to Chelsea Market on 16th Street instead of walking. What a fantastic place! This wonderful place for foodies, filled with fruit stands, bakeries and eateries, at one time was the world famous Nabisco (BG, 186). At that very moment I realized this is definitely where I will return to for the 4th of July weekend, and weather permitting; make the long journey from Chelsea Market to Battery Park.
We then descended the High Line at 20th Street to view the many galleries Chelsea is known for these days. There were some bizarre works of art and photography as well as very interesting absolutely beautiful creations for the public to see. The professors ended the day after viewing several collections. A few of us stayed behind to go to an off Broadway show with the professors, Adam of the Apes.
Adam of the Apes is a clever comedy that touches on Life’s age old questions and concepts about God, death, feminism, even human relationship to the animal kingdom. My friend who has never been to even a Broadway play was able to join us (thanks, Mike). We both enjoyed it and later laughed and recited some lines from it pizza. What a great day!
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