Castle Clinton National Monument

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.

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.

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.