Few buildings in Manhattan have had a richer and more varied life than 200-year-old Castle Clinton, the magnificent red sandstone structure that lies in historic Battery Park. Although originally built as a fortress just before the outbreak of the War of 1812, its actual fame rests on the years when it was known worldwide as Castle Garden, a name that underlined its intimate connection with the surrounding park. Under that name, it served successively as Manhattan�s preeminent public events hall and theater (1824�1855), then as America�s first great landing place for millions of immigrants (1855�1890), and finally as the oldest and grandest municipal aquarium in the United States (1896�1941). Castle Garden and Battery Park invites readers to step back in time and dip into this legendary monument�s dramatic story and learn how it has managed to survive into the 21st century.
Few buildings in Manhattan have had a richer and more varied life than 200-year-old Castle Clinton, the magnificent red sandstone structure that lies in historic Battery Park. Although originally built as a fortress just before the outbreak of the War of 1812, its actual fame rests on the years when it was known worldwide as Castle Garden, a name that underlined its intimate connection with the surrounding park. Under that name, it served successively as Manhattan�s preeminent public events hall and theater (1824�1855), then as America�s first great landing place for millions of immigrants (1855�1890), and finally as the oldest and grandest municipal aquarium in the United States (1896�1941). Castle Garden and Battery Park invites readers to step back in time and dip into this legendary monument�s dramatic story and learn how it has managed to survive into the 21st century.