Battery Park

Battery Park attractions are numerous, with monuments and other notable sights scattered across the park from end to end. No matter your interests, you’re sure to find something fun to do in Battery Park. Before you go, take a moment to learn more about this important southern Manhattan destination.

Where Is Battery Park?
The Battery Park location is at the southern end of Manhattan, framed by Battery Place and State Street.

Why Is it Called Battery Park?
You might be surprised to learn that Battery Park, New York, isn’t named after modern-day power packs but after a battery of cannons. The southern end of Manhattan was a strategic place to protect the city from attacks from the water, since it rests at the confluence of the Hudson and East rivers. The Battery was set up by the Dutch in 1623 to defend the city when it was still known as New Amsterdam. Battery Park features an amazing vista of the harbor with a riverside promenade that started attracting tourists in the early 18th century. Today, they flock here for views of the Statue of Liberty and to visit nearby restaurants and museums.

Things to Do Around Battery Park, NY

Battery Park attractions offer something for everyone. Our favorite things to do in Battery Park, New York, include visiting these sights:

• Battery Park City Esplanade: This pathway runs along the river from Battery Park to Tribeca. It’s a great place to run, bike, or walk while enjoying a beautiful river view.

• Museum of Jewish Heritage: This moving museum was built to honor those who lost their lives in the Holocaust. The museum explores modern Jewish life through objects, photos, and films.

• Castle Clinton National Monument: See the last remnant of the original Battery fortifications at this historic site, which was originally built to fend off a British invasion in 1812. Over the years, it’s been an entertainment center and an immigrant processing station, and it went on to house the New York Aquarium before closing in 1941. Now, it’s been restored to its former state and is open for visitors.

• SeaGlass Carousel: This beautiful carousel, created as a tribute to the original New York Aquarium, makes riders of its 30 iridescent fish feel like they’re in an aquatic wonderland. It uses LEDs to create an underwater atmosphere with a bioluminescent feel.

• East Coast Memorial: A massive, majestic eagle statue is the focal point of this site that pays tribute to the more than 4,000 Americans who lost their lives in the waters of the Atlantic Ocean during World War II combat.

• National Museum of the American Indian: Right next to the park is this Smithsonian institution, housed in the Alexander Hamilton U.S. Custom House. Exhibits explore the diverse cultures and histories of Native Americans.

• Korean War Veterans Memorial: One of the first memorials erected to Korean War dead, this site features an obelisk with the shape of a soldier cut out of it that’s also a sundial: Once a year, on July 27, at 10 am, the sun shines directly through the head of the soldier and onto a plaque at the foot of the statue. This was the exact time and date when the war ended.

Eager to see and learn more? It’s easy when you take our Downtown Tour, which stops at Battery Park as well as many other top destinations across Manhattan. Book online today and you’ll be able to enjoy this hop-on hop-off tour at the best possible price!