Castle Clinton National Monument

Fort Clinton; Castle Garden

Description

Castle Clinton or Fort Clinton, previously known as Castle Garden, is a circular sandstone fort located in Battery Park, in Manhattan, New York City. Built from 1808 to 1811, it was the first American immigration station, predating Ellis Island, where more than 8 million people arrived in the United States from 1855 to 1890.

Constructed, 1811

Originally erected in 1808-1811 as the Southwest Battery for the War of 1812, Castle Clinton was part of the NY Harbor Coastal Fortification system. It was originally located 300 feet offshore and connected to Manhattan via a bridge. The castle itself was converted to administrative headquarters for the Army. Simultaneously, at the end of the war, there was a public movement to build a park in the Battery area.

Renamed, 1816

West Battery was renamed Castle Clinton, its current official name, in honor of New York City Mayor DeWitt Clinton (who eventually became Governor of New York). An 1816 proposal to construct two small office buildings at Castle Clinton was canceled due to public opposition, and the castle lay dormant for three years. Even in 1820, it was only being used as a paymaster's quarters and storage area.

Decommissioned, 1821

Converted, 1824

The United States Army stopped using the fort in 1821, and it was ceded to the city by an act of Congress in March 1822. By then, the bridge leading to Castle Clinton was frequently used by fishermen who were catching fish from the bridge, which connected to the shore at the foot of Broadway. In 1823 it was ceded to the City, rechristened Castle Gardens and in 1824 an addition of a restaurant and entertainment center was erected. Castle Garden operated as an opera house and theater until 1854.

Converted, 1855

In 1855, now leased to NY State, Castle Garden opened as an immigration landing depot. During the next 34 years almost 8 million immigrants entered the United States through Castle Garden until scandal led to its closure in 1890. The immigration processing was transferred to federal control and relocated to the Barge Office and then to Ellis Island in 1892.

Converted, Dec 10, 1896

McKim Mead & White redesigned the building as the New York City Aquarium, opening in 1896.

Demolished, 1941

Demolition of the Aquarium by Robert Moses to make way for a never-built "Brooklyn to Battery Bridge"

Bought, 1950

It was one of the city's most popular attractions until it closed in 1941, when a vindictive Robert Moses (who had recently been prevented him building the Brooklyn-Battery Bridge), tried to demolish it. Thanks to supporters in the City and Federal Government, the fort became part of the National Park System in 1946 and was saved. The federal government finally obtained the property on July 18, 1950, after the city deeded the land and castle to the federal government. A project to renovate Castle Clinton was announced in 1956 after funding had been secured.

Restored, 1975

A major rehabilitation took place in the 1970s, and Castle Clinton reopened in 1975. It is currently administered by the National Park Service and is a departure point for visitors to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. In addition, the fort contains a small history exhibit and occasionally hosts concerts. Castle Clinton has largely been restored to its original appearance. The National Park Service restored it in 1986 as the original Castle Clinton. Tickets to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island are sold inside the fort.

Designations

New York City Landmark in Nov 23, 1965

National Historic Monument in Aug 12, 1946

National Register of Historic Places in Oct 15, 1966

Factoids

4 total, Show more

June 11, 1833 -Castle Garden hosted President Andrew Jackson

Castle Garden hosted President James Polk

Castle Garden hosted President Millard Fillmore

Related People & Organizations

The Battery Conservancy

Robert Moses,Demolition of the Aquarium by Robert Moses to make way for a never-built "Brooklyn to Battery Bridge" in 1941

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Timeline

1635

1775

1811

1824+ 1

1841

1842+ 2

1847

1850

1855

1867

1896

1912

1918

1950

1955

1975

2021

Images

11 Results,Show less

Images

9 Images,Show less

cultureNOW

Drawings and documents

2 Documents,Show less

Exploring Lower Manhattan : The Historic Battery & Castle Clinton

cultureNOW

Bird's-eye view of New York

George Schlegel, John Bachmann, Library of Congress

1975 - Restored

5 Results,Show less

1975 - Restored - Images

5 Images,Show less

Front entrance

National Park Service

Exterior view of the National Monument

cultureNOW

Exterior view

National Park Service

Entrance to the Castle

Library of Congress

Aerial view of the Battery

National Park Service

1950 - Bought

4 Results,Show less

1950 - Bought - Images

4 Images,Show less

Sign at entrance, Aug 1952

Library of Congress

Plaques on the Castle Clinton National Monument, August 1954

Library of Congress

Aerial view of Castle Clinton and Battery Park, August 1957

Library of Congress

Battery Park and shell of the old New York Aquarium at Castle Garden, Fall 1953

Library of Congress

1896 - Converted

13 Results,Show less

1896 - Converted - Images

9 Images,Show less

The Aquarium, Old Castle Garden, 1900

Library of Congress

Castle Garden (Battery), 1900

Museum of the City of New York

1910

Museum of the City of New York

Entrance to Castle Clinton, 1933

Library of Congress

Window, south exterior, 1933

Library of Congress

Interior view, West side, 1933

Library of Congress

Exterior elevation of Main Gate, North side, 1933

Library of Congress

Interior elevation of Main Gate, South Side, 1933

Library of Congress

1896 - Converted - Drawings and documents

4 Documents,Show less

Reopened as the New York City Aquarium on, December 10, 1896

National Park Service

Main Floor View, New York Aquarium, 1920

Museum of the City of New York

1908

New York Public Library

1908

New York Public Library

1855 - Converted

25 Results,Show less

1855 - Converted - Images

6 Images,Show less

Castle Garden Immigration Station, 1855

National Park Service

Aerial view illustration of the tip of Manhattan, 1880

Library of Congress

Battery Park in ye olden time, 1885

New York Public Library

Battery and old Castle Gardens (Castle Clinton), 1890

Library of Congress

The Battery and Castle Garden (Castle Clinton), 1895

Library of Congress

1850

Castle Garden Landing for Emigrants, Barge Office, Battery

The Metropolitan Museum of Art (The MET)

1855 - Converted - Drawings and documents

19 Documents,Show less

Passing the inspecting physician 1866

Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper, Library of Congress

Employment office 1866

Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper, Library of Congress

Registering emigrants 1866

Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper, Library of Congress

The Port of New York, Birds eye view from the Battery, looking south 1892

Currier & Ives, Library of Congress

Interior of Castle Garden, 1855

Museum of the City of New York

Arrival at Castle Garden, Jan 20 1866

Library of Congress

Interior of Castle Gardens filled with immigrant,s 1871

Library of Congress

Immigrants landing at Castle Garden, 1880

Library of Congress, Harper's Weekly

Their first Thanksgiving dinner, Man, woman, and boy (probably immigrants), eating on a picnic bench, outside Castle Garden, 1884

Harper's Weekly, Library of Congress

1885

Battery Park in ye olden time

New York Public Library

1884

Landing immigrants at Castle Garden

W. R. B, Schell & Hogan

William van de Velde Bonfield, New York Public Library

Mormon emigrants at Castle Garden, New York

New York Public Library

Emigrants at Castle Garden -- Runners and crimps at work -- a characteristic group

New York Public Library

Castle Garden baggage room--I. Receiving and storing luggage of arriving emigrants

New York Public Library

1872

Distributing food to the defrauded Italian emigrants at Castle Garden

New York Public Library

A day in Castle garden

New York Public Library

German emigrants to Salt Lake City, at Castle Garden, New York

New York Public Library

Castle Garden in the Battery

New York Public Library

1824 - Converted

12 Results,Show less

1824 - Converted - Images

3 Images,Show less

Landing of Gen. Lafayette, at Castle Garden, New York, 16th August 1824

Museum of the City of New York

Castle garden From the battery, 1848

National Park Service

Castle Garden, with a very interesting foreground large crowd of people, some waving at a procession, in foreground, 1850

New York Public Library

1824 - Converted - Drawings and documents

9 Documents,Show less

Old Castle Garden - 1846

Museum of the City of New York

Castle Garden, 1847

New York Historical

Twenty First Annual Fair. Castle Garden, 1848

Museum of the City of New York

Castle Garden in 1850

Museum of the City of New York

Castle Garden, 1852

National Park Service

1853

The italian opera at Castle Garden

New York Public Library

1850

Castle Garden, the Aquarium

John E. Herzog Collection

Theatres

New York Public Library

Castle Garden as it appeared in 1850

New York Public Library

1811 - Constructed

3 Results,Show less

1811 - Constructed - Images

1 Image,Show less

The South West Battery 1811-1821

National Park Service

1811 - Constructed - Drawings and documents

2 Documents,Show less

Castle Clinton and the Battery

Library of Congress

Castle Garden baggage room--II. Discharging emigrant luggage for city delivery

New York Public Library

ASSOCIATED SITES

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Events and Stories

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Lafayette's Farewell Tour

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Labor Exchange established

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Harry Houdini’s underwater box escape in the East River

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Samuel F. B. Morse’s demonstration of the telegraph

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1st successful Colt Revolver demonstrated at Castle Garden

Samuel Colt

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Submarine Battery demonstrated at Castle Garden

Samuel Colt

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1st Steam Powered Fire-Engine demostrated at Castle Garden

John Ericsson

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Turtle, The 1st one man military Submarine

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Invention, Military/Conflict

1st Italian settler in America

Art in the Parks - NYC Department of Parks and Recreation, The Battery Conservancy, A. Ottavino

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IN THIS PHOTO

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Pictured: The Port of New York, Birds eye view from the Battery, looking south 1892

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Pictured: The Port of New York, Birds eye view from the Battery, looking south 1892

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Pictured: The Port of New York, Birds eye view from the Battery, looking south 1892

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Pictured: The Port of New York, Birds eye view from the Battery, looking south 1892

The Commons