Vintage Images of Battery Park, New York

The historic Battery Park (The Battery) is a public park located at the foot of Broadway facing the harbor, at the southern tip of Manhattan Island. It was created in 1823 and contains many monuments, historic buildings and beautiful promenades. From the first European settlement to the early 19th century, this area was dedicated to defense.

In the 17th century, when it was called Capske Hook by Dutch settlers, there was artillery batteries in the area to protect the settlement in Manhattan. On April 27, 1686, the area was designated property of the City of New York by the Dongan Charter.

Castle Clinton was constructed from stone, in 1807, as a means of providing an arsenal in times of battle. The southwest expansion of the Battery was completed in 1811 by landfill. The Battery also expanded during the War of 1812 to protect the Buttermilk Channel in the East River.

The opening of the Erie Canal, in 1825, boosted even more the development of New York.

In 1855, the Castle in the Park, became the Castle Garden Immigration Station. This former naval fortification has changed overtime. In 1871, a small stretch of asphalt pavement was laid in Battery Park.

In 1896, it reopened as the New York City Aquarium. In 1941, the Aquarium was relocated to Coney Island. In 1946, the Castle was restored to its original design by the National Park Service and reopened, in 1975, as Castle Clinton National Monument.

Buildings in Lower Manhattan seen from The Battery, with Castle Clinton on the right. Photograph by Alexander Alland with the following text on verso: Battery Park: The Bowling Green-Broadway area as viewed from the rear of the Aquarium. Outstanding there is the distinctive Standard Oil Company Building. The inspiring Bank of Manhattan Tower is just beyond. 1938-9. It was published in Portrait of New York by Felix Reisenberg and A. Alland, 1939. Source: New York Public Library.