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steph Ridder »
These murals are fabulous- a must see!...
steph Ridder »
everyone should go here for valentines day...
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No problem! We are always happy to support chocoholics....
The Wyckoff House Museum was New York City’s first official historic landmark and is one of the oldest buildings standing in the five boroughs. The structure was built as the home of Dutch immigrant Pieter Claesen, who would later change [...]
The Garibaldi-Meucci Museum is a cultural center on Staten Island housed in a historic home that was once inhabited by inventor Antonio Meucci and Italian hero Giuseppe Garibaldi. Meucci worked in voice communications and is credited with developing early telephone [...]
The Louis Armstrong House is a museum and cultural center focusing on the life and legacy of one of the United States’ most famous musicians. The institution is operated out of the historic house in Corona, Queens that was home [...]
The Kingsland Homestead is a beautiful historic house in Flushing that functions both as a museum and the headquarters of the Queens Historical Society. The structure was built around 1785 as the home of early settler and wealthy Quaker Charles [...]
Fonthill Castle is a towering 19th century Gothic revival style building on the campus of the College of Mount Saint Vincent in the Bronx. The structure was originally built in 1852 as the home of celebrated Shakespearean actor Edwin Forrest [...]
Stonehurst Mansion is a beautiful historic house in the Bronx neighborhood of Riverdale that was constructed in the late 1850s by William Cromwell. The building is also known as the Robert Colgate House, after the elaborate home’s primary resident after [...]
The Riverdale Country Day School is a historic academy in one of the Bronx’s most scenic neighborhoods and among the oldest educational institutions of its kind in the United States. The facility was originally opened in 1907 as the Riverdale [...]
The United Church – Inglesia Unida is a striking architectural attraction in the Bronx’s Longwood Historic District that has served as an important religious center for over 100 years. The structure was originally built as a synagogue for the Montefiore [...]
The Valentine-Varian House is the only standing remnant of the many historic farmhouses that once lined Boston Post Road at a time when the neighborhood was rural countryside. The charming multi-story structure is built primarily of local fieldstone, which was [...]
The Edgar Allen Poe Cottage is a historic landmark in the Bronx where the famous poet spent the final years of his life. Between 1846 and 1849, the writer resided at the charming farmhouse in the then rural suburb of [...]
The William Dodge House is a beautiful historic mansion in Riverdale, a scenic neighborhood in the Bronx. Constructed in 1863, the building originally served as the summer estate of businessman and philanthropist William E. Dodge Jr., at a time when [...]
Saint Ann’s Church is the oldest religious center of its kind standing in the borough of the Bronx. The parish was founded in 1841 by members of the Morris Family, early settlers and major landowners in the area. The church [...]
The Biddle House is one of several beautiful and historic structures located in Conference House Park on Staten Island. The structure was built in the late 1840s as the home of Captain Henry Hogg Biddle, who owned and operated the [...]
Castle Williams is a landmark historic military building on Governors Island in the New York Harbor. The structure was built in 1811 by Jonathan Williams, Chief Engineer of the US Army Corps, as part of a defense network guarding the [...]
The Samuel Pell House is a stunning historic landmark on City Island in the Bronx. The home was built circa 1876 for the family of Samuel Pell, a wealthy oyster tradesman and boat captain. Pell was a direct descendant of [...]
The Bronx County Courthouse is a landmark historic building in the borough, serving as the main administrative building for the judicial system of the county. The nine story limestone structure was designed in 1931 and completed three years later, opening [...]
The Octagon is one of New York City’s most unusual residential structures, housed on Roosevelt Island on a historic property with a dubious past. The recently constructed waterfront apartment complex features a landmark five-story eight sided rotunda at its center. [...]
The Mount Vernon Hotel Museum and Garden is one of the few 18th century buildings still standing in the borough of Manhattan. Today, the antique structure stands as a well-curated historical institution on the Upper East Side. The charming stone [...]
The College of Mount Saint Vincent is a stunning sight on 70 acres of rolling hills and woods along the banks of the Hudson River in the western Bronx. The school’s campus formerly served as the estate of Shakespearean actor [...]
The Fieldston Historic District is a stunning privately owned residential neighborhood in the borough of the Bronx, just east of the Henry Hudson Parkway and the neighborhood of Riverdale. The community is widely recognized as one of New York City’s [...]
The Trinity Church Cemetery and Mausoleum is one of three burial grounds in New York City owned and operated by the historic Financial District church. The graveyard is housed on scenic wooded grounds overlooking Riverside Drive and the Hudson River [...]
The Dyckman Farmhouse Museum is the oldest structure of its kind remaining in Manhattan. The Dutch Colonial country home was built in the 1780s in the neighborhood of Inwood at a time when the now urban area was a rural [...]
The New York City Marble Cemetery is a historic property in the East Village and one of the oldest non-denominational burial grounds in the city. The only similar property that predates it is the New York Marble Cemetery, located only [...]
Fraunces Tavern is a historic bar and restaurant that opened in 1762 in the Financial District, one of New York City’s oldest neighborhoods. The Georgian style structure was originally built as the home of Etienne DeLancey in 1719 and was [...]
240 Centre Street is a historic Beaux-Arts building constructed in 1909 and designed by New York City architecture firm Hoppin & Koen. The stunning wedge-shaped structure features an ornamental white limestone façade carved with relief sculpture, large arched windows and [...]
The Harry F. Sinclair House is a stunning French Renaissance style mansion with gothic influences on the Upper East Side. The Chateau was built just off 5th Avenue in 1897 by banker Isaac D. Fletcher and was designed by Charles [...]
Kingsbridge Armory is one of the largest arsenals in the United States and is located in the borough of the Bronx. Also known as the 8th Regiment Armory, the structure was built in the early 1900s, by the firm of [...]
The Goldman Stone Mill is an event space on the banks of the Bronx River at the New York Botanical Garden that offers a picturesque setting for weddings, banquets and other private events. Originally known as the Lorillard Snuff Mill, [...]
Fort Greene Park is a beautiful public green space located in a historic Brooklyn neighborhood. The park was named for General Nathaniel Greene, who oversaw the construction of a fort on the property during the Revolutionary War. The strategic site [...]
Sylvan Terrace is a charming and historic enclave community in Manhattan’s Washington Heights neighborhood and is accessible via a small stone staircase on St. Nicholas Avenue. The beautiful mews features a cobblestone street lined by lampposts and 20 charming yellow [...]
The Morris-Jumel Mansion is Manhattan’s oldest house and was built by British Colonel Roger Morris in 1765. The hilltop property, known as Mount Morris, once spanned more than 100 acres and provided panoramic views of the Harlem River, New Jersey [...]
The Jerome Park Reservoir was completed in 1905 to store water from the New Croton Aqueduct system, which brought clean water to New York City from Westchester County. The massive system still provides ten percent of the city’s water supply. [...]
Federal Hall National Memorial is one of the most iconic landmarks on Wall Street and is noted for its central role in the formation of the American government. During the 18th century, the site served as New York’s City Hall [...]
The American Stock Exchange began as the only securities trading institution in the United States. Prior to the establishment of the organization, many securities were not large enough to be traded in official exchanges as they could not meet requirements [...]
The Old Stone House is a beautiful and historic architectural site located in the Brooklyn neighborhood of Park Slope. The reconstructed 1699 Dutch farmhouse was built near the banks of the Gowanus Canal and was once owned by early settler [...]
The Hamilton Grange Nation Memorial is a beautiful historic site in Harlem and the former home of Alexander Hamilton, a founding father of the United States. Hamilton was a soldier in the Revolutionary War who became the aide-de-camp to General [...]
The American Academy of Arts and Letters is an honor society for writers, composers, architects and artists, that is dedicated to the preservation and support of artistic endeavors. Membership to the elite group is granted by election and is limited [...]
City Hall in downtown Manhattan serves as the seat of the city’s government, housing the offices of the Mayor and City Council. New York’s City Hall is the oldest in continual use in the United States, housing its original governmental [...]
The Bayside Historical Society was founded 1964 and is dedicated to the history of the Queens neighborhood and surrounding communities. The institution advocates for the preservation of historic landmarks in the area and has been instrumental in the restoration of [...]
Woodlawn Cemetery in the Bronx is known for containing the largest number of historic mausoleums in the United States. The cemetery has been in operation for 150 years and became a National Historic Landmark in 2011. The picturesque 400 acre [...]
The New York & Long Island Coignet Stone Company was designed 1872 as part of a 5 acre industrial complex that is now abandoned. The development, located along the Gowanus canal, was dedicated to producing building materials including Beton Coignet [...]
Keating Hall is a striking historic building on the campus of Fordham University in the Bronx. Built 1936, the hall was named for a former treasurer of the university. Keating Hall was designed by New York City architect Robert J. [...]
Grand Army Plaza in Brooklyn was originally planned by noted landscape architects Calvert Vaux and Frederick Law Olmsted as the main entrance to Prospect Park. The circular plaza first opened to the public in 1867 and has since become one [...]
The abandoned 3rd District Depot once served as the national center of operations for the United States Lighthouse Service. The 10 acre site is located on the St George waterfront in northern Staten Island. The Depot is comprised of several [...]
Richmond Town in Staten Island is a living museum and historic complex where visitors can explore the area’s past through interactive exhibits. Richmond Town is the only attraction of its kind in New York City. The town includes more than [...]
Castle Clinton National Monument is a beautiful example of historic military architecture in Battery Park at the southernmost tip of Manhattan. The striking terra-cotta colored sandstone fort was built to protect the New York Harbor in preparation for the War [...]
The Brooklyn Bridge remains one of the most visited architectural attractions in New York City and is crossed by thousands of pedestrians each day. The bridge opened to traffic in 1883 and, at the time, was the longest suspension bridge [...]
Deno’s Wonder Wheel is one of the few original Coney Island attractions remaining on the boardwalk. The ride was built in 1920 by the Eccentric Ferris Wheel Company and constructed from Bethlehem Steel. Typical of the company’s style, 16 of [...]
The Alice Austen House Museum is dedicated to the life and work of one of America’s first female photographers. Born in 1866, Austen is best known for her New York street photography depicting scenes of city workers, immigrants on Ellis [...]
The Chrysler Building is one of New York City’s most recognizable landmarks. The Art Deco building stands over 1000 feet tall and, at the time of its construction, competed with both the Empire State Building and 40 Wall Street to [...]
In 1697, the first service was held at the historic Trinity Church. Trinity is widely considered one of the most beautiful examples of Neo-Gothic architecture in New York City. The church building standing today is actually the third constructed for [...]
It is estimated that almost half of the American public can trace their linage to at least one family member who traveled through Ellis Island in New York City. The immigration station was established in 1890 and since then more [...]
The Apollo Theater is a New York City landmark, recognizable by its iconic marquee and noted for its enormous impact on the Harlem Renaissance. Originally opened in 1914 as a Burlesque House, the site did not become the 125th Street [...]
The Statue of Liberty is New York City’s most famous piece of public artwork and stands as a monument for democracy and freedom. The statue was gifted to the citizens of the United States from the people of France in [...]
The City Island Nautical Museum is a community institution dedicated to preserving the nautical history of the small neighborhood in Pelham Bay. The museum’s collection includes painting, photography, model ships and memorabilia. Exhibitions explore everything from the island’s famous yacht [...]
Pier A in Battery Park City was built in the 1880s, around the same time as the Brooklyn Bridge. The historic terminal was originally used by the Department of Docks and Harbor Police. The beautiful building features a pitched roof [...]
Pier 17, on the East River waterfront, is home to a remarkable collection of ships owned by the South Street Seaport Museum. The fleet is the largest of its kind in the United States. The historic vessels, some of which [...]
The Police Museum is dedicated to preserving the history of the New York Police Department, the largest municipal police force in America, founded in 1845. The museum is housed in the former First Precinct building, constructed in 1911. Exhibitions at [...]
When the Flatiron Building was completed in 1902, the 22 story structure was the only skyscraper above 14th Street. The site is located at the junction of 5th Avenue and Broadway, where the roadways create a triangular plot of land. [...]
The Empire State Building is the second tallest building in New York City and is among the most famous. It was the first building in history to rise more than 100 floors and, with the antenna, stands over 1,400 feet [...]
Like Manhattan’s Central Park, Prospect Park was designed by noted landscape architects Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux in the 1860s. Extending over 585 acres, the park includes the rolling meadows, lakes and waterfalls typical of Olmsted and Vaux’s style. [...]
Conference House Park in Staten Island is the southernmost location in New York State, and overlooks the Raritan Bay, Arthur Kill Waterway and New Jersey coastline. The park was named for the Conference House, a historic stone manor on the [...]
The Bartow-Pell Mansion is a historic country estate located in Pelham Bay Park. The mansion was built in the 1830’s by Robert Bartow, but the estate dates back to 1654, when Thomas Pell purchased the land. The stunning Federal style [...]
Grant’s Tomb serves as the final resting place of the 18th President of the United States, Ulysses S. Grant. A resident of New York City, Grant was the commander of the Union Army during the Civil War. He is also [...]
The Seventh Regiment Armory, now known as the Park Avenue armory, was built in 1880 and has played an important role in the military history of New York City. The site served as the headquarters for the Seventh New York [...]
The State University of New York Maritime College is located on a scenic 55 acre property on the Throgs Neck Peninsula in the Bronx. The campus offers striking views of the East River waterfront and the Throgs Neck Bridge. The [...]
Formerly the Third Judicial District Courthouse, the Jefferson Market Library was built between 1874 and 1877 in Greenwich Village. The building was designed by renowned New York City architect Calvert Vaux, who recruited Fredrick Law Olmsted for the planning of [...]
The Brooklyn Promenade offers some of the best city views of Manhattan. Built as an overhang along the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway, the park overlooks the East River and Southern Manhattan. From the cobblestone pathway, visitors can enjoy the sights of the [...]
New York City houses several important historic cemeteries, yet many tourists and locals never venture beyond Green-Wood Cemetery in Brooklyn. Calvary Cemetery in Queens is one of the oldest and largest cemeteries in the United States. Cavalry opened in 1848 [...]
Belvedere Castle is an ornate landmark that is an iconic destination in Central Park. Designed in 1865 as a park attraction, Belvedere features high turrets and balconies on multiple levels. The site provides many panoramas of the park including the [...]
The Bryant Park Hotel, since its opening in 2001, has been rated one of New York City’s best luxury destinations. The Bryant Park offers modern boutique rooms with hardwood floors, some even provide park views and private balconies. The hotel’s [...]
Located in Flushing Meadows Park, the Queens Museum of Art contains one of the most unique collections in New York City. The museum’s structure was originally built as the New York Pavilion for the 1939 World’s Fair, and it is [...]
St. George’s Theater is a beautiful and unique center for Performing Arts in a historic neighborhood of Staten Island. Opened in 1929, the theater was originally used as a film and vaudeville venue that remained in continuous operation for almost [...]
A fantastic summer destination, Jacob Riis Park is one of the five borough’s best beaches and an important historic landmark. Part of the Gateway National Parks system, the area offers a mile long stretch of ocean with a wide sandy [...]
Also known as Ambrose Channel Range Lighthouse, the Staten Island Light is one of the most beautiful historic buildings in the borough. Located several miles inland on Richmond Hill, the 90 foot octagonal tower is an unusual sight in the [...]
The Water Front Museum in Red Hook is housed on a well persevered barge built in 1914. One of the only floating museums in the city, the ship is located at the piers in the New York Harbor and is [...]
Located on the New York City-Westchester County line, Van Cortlandt Park’s property spans over 1,000 acres. The scenic park is home to many historical and cultural sites, as well as an abundance of outdoor activities. The most notable feature in [...]
The Morgan Library & Museum is one of the most beautiful examples of early 20th century architecture in the United States. The original owner of the collection, Pierpont Morgan was a prominent New York City businessman. He began purchasing rare [...]
The Gustav Heye Center is a branch of the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of the American Indian. The museum is dedicated to the arts of indigenous cultures from North, South and Central America. The center displays both permanent and special [...]
The smallest island in New York City, U Thant Island is located just south of Roosevelt Island in the East River. Measuring only 100 feet wide by 200 feet long, the man-made island was the result of a construction project [...]
The Brooklyn Navy Yard has been in operation for over 200 years and remains one of New York City’s most intriguing historic sites. After several years of operation as a private dock, the shipyard was sold to the United States [...]
The oldest continuously running music store in New York City, Casa Amadeo in the South Bronx is an icon in Latin music and culture. The store was opened by Rafael Hernandez, an acclaimed composer, and his sister Victoria. Initially located [...]
The Our Lady of Mount Carmel Grotto, known as the Rose Bank Shrine, was built by an Italian immigrant who arrived in New York City in 1903. Vito Russo prayed to the saint that, if provided safe passage to America, [...]
The Hall of Fame for Great Americans in the Bronx pays tribute to American men and women who have made a profound historical impact on the United States. Located on the campus of Bronx Community College, the Beaux Arts style [...]
The Schinasi Mansion is one of the largest freestanding single-family homes on Manhattan Island. Located on Riverside Drive at 107th Street, the corner property boasts stunning views of Riverside Park and the Hudson River. The mansion was built for Morris [...]
The New York Public Library system is one of the largest and most prestigious institutions of its kind in the United States. The largest branch, in Midtown Manhattan, is a notable historic landmark in the City, and one of the [...]
Shooters Island is one of New York’s most overlooked historic sites, and was originally used as a colonial hunting preserve. During the Revolutionary War, George Washington utilized the secluded landmass as a meeting place for spies and a depository for [...]
Around the turn of the 20th century, as the public’s interest in film grew, architects designed ornate Atmospheric Theaters to enhance the cinematic experience. Designed to be reminiscent of old European cities and gardens, the theaters are known for their [...]
Construction of Fort Totten, a former army installation and Civil War Fortress, began in 1862, but was never fully completed. The 60 acre stronghold was intended to protect the entrance to the New York Harbor at the north end of [...]
Fort Tilden, located at the tip of the Rockaway’s, is a summer retreat offering a quiet spot on the sand and a great opportunity to explore historic sites. With over 317 acres of beach, dunes and maritime forest, Fort Tilden [...]
In the late 1600’s, when the British took control of what was then New Amsterdam, the monarchy housed its governors on a small island in the channel between lower Manhattan and Brooklyn. Officially named Governors Island in 1784, the tiny [...]
City Island is located in the Long Island Sound, just East of Pelham Bay Park in the Bronx. The mile-and-a-half long island is home to a population of under 5,000 people, and is a charming community reminiscent of a small [...]
One of the most impressive historic landmarks in the city, the Cathedral Church of Saint John the Divine was built to rival the massive Saint Patrick’s Cathedral in Midtown, the seat of the Archbishop. Although the building remains uncompleted, it [...]
Queens hosts one of the most fascinating film and television studios in New York City. Kaufman Astoria Studios, the original home to Paramount Pictures, is one of the city’s three largest studios for film and television. Now on the National [...]
Hosted by the Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA) in a historic 1936 subway station, the New York Transit Museum has an outstanding collection of historic information, memorabilia and, most famously, antique trains. There are permanent and special exhibits recounting the history [...]
The Cloisters Museum and Fort Tryon Park are perched on the cliffs above the Henry Hudson River on the northern tip of Manhattan. The museum, built from stones imported from several abbeys in France, contains an extensive collection of Medieval [...]
By far the largest park in New York City, Pelham Bay Park is comprised of over 2,500 acres of shoreline, marshland, forests and several islands in the Long Island Sound. It encompasses a large portion of the northwest side of [...]
With a rich history and hundreds of acres, Mt. Loretto State Preserve is one of the most biologically diverse parks in New York City. The preserve’s habitats range from wetlands to grasslands and from beach to woodland forest. In fact, [...]
One of the scariest places in the city’s limits, the Farm Colony on Staten Island is one of the largest abandoned sites in the five boroughs. Lying on more than 300 acres of dense underbrush, dilapidated buildings have been decomposing [...]
Named a National Historic Landmark in 2006, Green-Wood Cemetery in Brooklyn is one of the most famous graveyards in New York City. The cemetery was founded in 1836, and spreads over more than 400 landscaped acres of rolling hills [...]
The first municipal airport constructed within the limits of New York City, Floyd Bennett Field was opened to air traffic in 1931. It was home to four hangers and multiple concrete runways that were capable of handling the largest aircraft [...]
Situated strategically at the Verrazano Narrows on Staten Island, Fort Wadsworth is an excellent location to explore the history of New York and take in stunning views of the New York Harbor, Brooklyn and downtown Manhattan. There are walking and [...]
Tourists in New York City typically visit Little Italy on Mulberry Street, but the Belmont neighborhood of the Bronx has a Little Italy of its own. The area is teeming with shops, restaurants and bakeries run by the local Italian-American [...]
Located by Fordham University in the Bronx, the New York Botanical Gardens is one of the premier plant conservatories in the United States. The grounds cover nearly 250 acres, and feature almost 50 different gardens, research facilities and laboratories, and [...]
A 28-acre public garden and cultural center in Riverdale, Wave Hill boasts an array of manicured gardens and stunning views of the Hudson River. Large greenhouses showcase some of the best examples of cacti, tropical plants and bonsai trees in [...]
Tucked away in the Staten Island Botanical Gardens at Snug Harbor, the New York Chinese Scholar’s Garden is a unique example of traditional Chinese landscaping and architecture. Accented by coy ponds and waterfalls, footbridges and flowering trees, the garden [...]
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