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.

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. In 1855, the Castle in the Park, became the Castle Garden Immigration Station. This former naval fortification has changed overtime. 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.

Above, Battery Park and Lower Manhattan in a vintage postcard by American Art Publishing Co. / Metropolitan Post Card Company.

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.