The Battery is an area at the southern tip of Manhattan Island, which was used for defense of the urban settlement since the 17th century until the early 19th century.
In
the early 19th century the Battery exhibited a tall flagpole atop a tower built
in 1790, with the United States flag. The West Battery, later called
Castle Garden, was constructed in stone, from 1808 to 1811,
as a fortification to defend the City against possible British invasion during
the Napoleonic Wars. The United States remained neutral until 1806, but ended up
getting involved in the conflicts, leading to the War of 1812 against Great
Britain.
A public park, facing the harbor, was created in 1823. The opening of the Erie Canal, in 1825, boosted even more the development of New York. In the 1830s, the Battery was considered one of the finest public walks in the country in warm weather.
From 1855 to 1890, Castle Garden, became the Immigration Station.
In 1870-1871, the park was entirely renovated and a small stretch of asphalt pavement was laid in Battery Park. It was then easily accessible from remote parts of the city by the elevated railway, which extended to South Ferry.
In 1896, Castle Garden reopened as the New York Aquarium, under city management.
