New York Trip---April 2008

I recently went on a trip to New York. I was able to go to upstate New York and to New York City. This was my first time east of Illinois! Can you believe it?!

Niagara Falls

Tuesday, April 8, 2008

Niagara Falls trivia: Niagara Falls are waterfalls that straddle the border of Canada and the U.S. They are 17 miles NNW of Buffalo, NY and 75 miles SSE of Toronto. Niagara Falls is composed of 2 sections: Horseshoe Falls (Canada side) and Amercian Falls (U.S. side). The falls were formed when glaciers receded during the end of the last ice age and water from the Great Lakes carved a path through the Wisconsin Escarpment (a transition zone between physically different geographic masses which involves a sharp, steep elevation differential, characterized by a cliff or steep slope) . On average, almost 4 million cubic feet of water flows over the crest every minute! On high flow days, more than 6 million cubic feet flows over the crest! Amazing!! Niagara Falls is the most powerful waterfall in North America.

I'm a little embarrassed to say this, but I was a surprised that the falls weren't, well, more of a fall. They are definitely beautiful though! I don't have a passport so we weren't able to see the falls from the Canadian side. There was still snow/ice at the rim of the falls so we weren't able to get as close to them as I would have liked.

Palmyra, New York

Tuesday, April 8, 2008

My friend and I were also able to go to Palmyra, New York. These next pictures include: The Sacred Grove, the Palmyra Temple, and Joseph Smith's home. The Palmyra Temple is just across the road from the Sacred Grove.

Very beautiful!

Lake Ontario

Sakets Harbor, NY

Thursday, April 10, 2008 Sakets Harbor trivia: Sakets Harbor was founded in 1801 by a NYC land spectator, Augustus Sackett. As tension increased between Great Britain and America, the United States began to build up forces at Sackets Harbor. There were 2 big battles here during the war of 1812. In the first battle, the U.S. was able to fight off 5 British ships. In the second battle, British forces landed and attacked the village, but were driven off. Because of its prime waterfront location, the village became a major base of operations for both the Navy (including the Marine Corps) and the Army. In1813, Sakets Harbor became the U.S. Naval headquarters for the Great Lakes for the war.

New York City

Staten Island Ferry

Friday, April 11, 2008 This is my cousin, Megan, and me on the Staten Island Ferry. We decided to hop on at oh, about 10:00 p.m. the night I got in to NYC. It was pretty foggy, drizzly, and cold, but we were troopers and enjoyed the view. In this picture we don'tquite resemble drowned rats, but rest assured, at the end of the ride, we did. Definitely worth it though. Here's Meg-looking a little more drowned-ratish.The view of the NYC skyline from the ferry. Not a very good picture, I know. You had to be there to really appreciate it. This is a picture of the Statue of Liberty, I promise. I was quite disappointed that: #1 you can't really see her and #2 that the pictures don't let you get an idea of just how big she is and #3 that we were SO close to her but you can't tell it.

Bryant Park and the New York Public Library

New York City, NY

Saturday, April 12, 2008

Bryant Park Each Saturday my cousin and her friend Jill beebop through the streets of NYC. This Saturday they were so kind to let me come along. Our walk took us to Bryant Park and to the New York Public Library. Bryant Park trivia: In 1686 New York's colonial govenor designated the wilderness area of now known as Bryant Park a public space. In 1776, George Washington's troops crossed this area while retreating from the Battle of Long Island. Bryant Park was a burial ground for the poor until 1840 when the bodies were moved to Ward's Island. By the 1970's, the park had been overrun by drug dealers, prostitutes and the homeless. Because of this, it earned the adoring nickname of "Needle Park". From 1979 until 1983 a combined effort "rebuilt" and improved conditions in the park. Today, the park is a haven to enjoy a picnic lunch.Megan, Me and Jill in Bryant Park.

New York Public LibraryThis lion may look familiar if you've ever seen the movie "Ghost Busters". I'm sure he's been in other movies too.Hmmm...just a nice statue.The faux ivy is amazing here in NYC!

Traveling through the streets of NYC.For some reason, I seem to think this is what New York City is supposed to look like. Most of it doesn't though.

Ground Zero

It was pretty strange/eerie to see such an empty space in the streets of NYC. It's amazing that the buildings that stand next to the site are still standing.

Times Square

What a BUSY part of town!

Trinity Church

Manhattan, NY

This is a photo of Alexander Hamilton's headstone. Trivia on Mr. Hamilton(1755 or 1757-1804): he was the first Secretary of the Treasury of the United States, lawyer, Founding Father, American economist and political theorist. He was also one of America's first constitutional lawyers and was a leader in calling the Philidelphia Convention in 1787. Mr. Hamilton was one of the two chief authors of the anonymous Federalist Papers, the most cited contemporary interpretation of intent for the United States Constitution. He now appears on the $10 bill.

Stone Street

This picture is for Megan. She REALLY loves Stone St. It was the first paved street in NYC.

Wall Street

Manhattan Temple

Kinda crazy to see a temple in the middle of all of the apartment/

department/office buildings.

The Brooklyn Bridge

This is a shot from the Brooklyn side looking towards the Manhattan side.

Brooklyn Bridge info: it is one of the oldest suspension bridges in the U.S.A. It reaches 5,989 feet over the East River and connects Brooklyn and Manhattan.

This is Megan. She's looking so cute and happy on the Brooklyn Bridge.

A New York Slice

I don't really think there is any description for this.

New York City, New York

Sunday, April 13, 2008

Central Park

Central Park is a 843 acre park-in the center of Manhattan. It is the most visited city park in the U.S. (approximately 25 million/year). It has been a National Historic Landmark since 1963.