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New York National Parks

New York City | Long Island | Capital-Saratoga | Thousand Island Seaway | The Adirondacks | Central-Leatherstocking
The Catskills | Hudson Valley | Finger Lakes | Greater Niagara | Chautauqua-Allegheny

Spotlights


Statue of Liberty National Monument

Statue of Liberty National Monument Located in New York Harbor, the Statue of Liberty was a gift of international friendship from the people of France to the people of the United States and is one of the most universal symbols of political freedom and democracy. The Statue of Liberty was dedicated on October 28, 1886 and was designated a National Monument on October 15, 1924. The Statue was extensively restored in time for her spectacular centennial on July 4, 1986.

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Saratoga National Historical Park

Saratoga National Historical Park Site of the first significant American military victory during the Revolution, the Battles of Saratoga rank among the fifteen most decisive battles in world history. Here in 1777 American forces met, defeated and forced a major British army to surrender, an event which led France to recognize the independence of the United States and enter the war as a decisive military ally of the struggling Americans.

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New York City Long Island


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Castle Clinton National Monument - More than a dozen forts were built to defend New York Harbor at the time of the War of 1812. The Southwest Battery was constructed on the rocks off the tip of Manhattan Island between 1808 and 1811. Although fully armed and staffed, the fort never had occasion to fire upon an enemy. In 1817, the fort was renamed Castle Clinton in honor of DeWitt Clinton, Mayor of New York City.

Ellis Island National Monument - Ellis Island was incorporated as part of the Statue of Liberty National Monument on May 11, 1965. Between 1892 and 1954, approximately 12 million steerage and third class steamship passengers who entered the United States through the port of New York were legally and medically inspected at Ellis Island. Reopened on September 10, 1990 after a massive restoration, the Main Building on Ellis Island is now a museum dedicated to the history of immigration and the important role this island claimed during the mass migration of humanity in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Federal Hall National Memorial - The corner of Wall and Broad Streets was the site of New York City's 18th century City Hall. It was the seat of New York's colonial government and the meeting place of the Stamp Act Congress which assembled in October, 1765, to protest "taxation without representation". After the American Revolution, the Continental Congress met at City Hall, where the Northwest Ordinance establishing procedures for creating new states was adopted in 1787.

Gateway National Recreation Area - Gateway NRA is a 26,000 acre recreation area located in the heart of the New York metropolitan area. The park extends through three New York City boroughs and into northern New Jersey. Park sites offer a variety of recreation opportunities, along with a chance to explore many significant cultural and natural resources.

General Grant National Memorial -  This memorial to Ulysses S. Grant, the Union commander who brought the Civil war to an end, includes the tombs of General and Mrs. Grant. A West Point graduate Grant served in the Mexican War and the American Civil war. In 1866 Congress awarded Grant his fourth star making him the first full General of the Armies in American history. As the President of the United States (1869-77), Grant signed the act establishing the first national park, Yellowstone, March 1, 1872.

Hamilton Grange National Memorial - The Hamilton Grange National Memorial is dedicated to Alexander Hamilton.  Hamilton was instrumental in creating the new Constitution. As co-author of the "Federalist Paper" he was indispensable in the effort to get the Constitution adopted. As the first Secretary of the Treasury (1789-1795) he devised plans for funding the national debt, securing federal credit, encouraging expansion of manufacturing and organizing the federal bank.

Lower East Side Tenement Museum National Historic Site - Chartered in l988, the Tenement Museum’s mission is “to promote tolerance and historical perspective through the presentation and interpretation of a variety of immigrant and migrant experiences on Manhattan’s Lower East Side, a gateway to America”. The heart of the Tenement Museum is its tenement building that was home to an estimated 7,000 people, from over 20 nations, between 1863 and 1935.

Saint Paul's Church National Historic Site - This 18th-century church is one of New York's oldest parishes (1665-1980). It was used as a hospital following the Revolutionary War battle at Pell's Point in 1776. The church stood at the edge of Eastchester village green, the site of the "Great Election"(1773), which raised the issues of Freedom of Religion and Press. The adjoining cemetery contains burials dating from 1665.

Statue Of Liberty National Monument - Located in New York Harbor, the Statue of Liberty was a gift of international friendship from the people of France to the people of the United States and is one of the most universal symbols of political freedom and democracy. The Statue of Liberty was dedicated on October 28, 1886 and was designated a National Monument on October 15, 1924. The Statue was extensively restored in time for her spectacular centennial on July 4, 1986.

Theodore Roosevelt Birthplace National Historic Site - For 14 years, this was the home of Theodore Roosevelt, the young man who was to become the 26th President of the United States. Roosevelt lived here from the time of his birth, October 27, 1858. The house was reconstructed in 1923, to preserve the story of the early life of this influential president.

 

Hudson Valley

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Appalachian National Scenic Trail - The Appalachian National Scenic Trail is a 2,167-mile (3,488 km) footpath along the ridge crests and across the major valleys of the Appalachian Mountains from Katahdin in Maine to Springer Mountain in north Georgia. The trail traverses Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, West Virginia, Virginia, Tennessee, North Carolina and Georgia.

Eleanor Roosevelt National Historic Site - "The greatest thing I have learned is how good it is to come home again," Eleanor Roosevelt once told a friend. This simple statement expresses her love for the modest house near the Hudson River she called Val-Kill, the only home that was ever hers. The only National Historic Site dedicated to a First Lady, Val-Kill welcomes the visitor as Mrs. Roosevelt welcomed her many guests. Visitors may tour Mrs. Roosevelt's Val-Kill Cottage and enjoy the lovely gardens and grounds on the site.

Home of Franklin D. Roosevelt National Historic Site - The Home of Franklin D. Roosevelt National Historic Site contains "Springwood", the lifelong home of America's only 4-term President. Also on the site is the Presidential Library and Museum, operated by the National Archives. Visitors may enjoy a guided tour of FDR's home, take a self-guided tour of the Museum, or stroll the grounds, gardens, and trails of this 300-acre site.

Martin Van Buren National Historic Site - Martin Van Buren National Historic Site is found in Kinderhook, New York. The Eighth President of the United States, Martin Van Buren purchased the estate in 1839 during his Presidency.

Vanderbilt Mansion National Historic Site - The Vanderbilt Estate in Hyde Park, New York is perhaps the best, most intact example of the types of estates constructed by wealthy industrialists in the 19th century. The fully-furnished, 54-room mansion is placed in a wondrous landscape with breathtaking views of the Hudson River and distant Catskill Mountains. If offers a glimpse into a past world known by only an elite few.

 
The Catskills

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Upper Delaware Scenic and Recreational River - As a part of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System, Upper Delaware Scenic and Recreational River stretches 73.4 miles (118.3 km) along the New York-Pennsylvania border. The longest free-flowing river in the Northeast, it includes riffles and Class I and II rapids between placid pools and eddies.

 
Chautauqua-Allegheny

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North Country National Scenic Trail - The North Country National Scenic Trail links scenic, natural, historic, and cultural areas in seven northern states. The approximately four thousand mile long trail incudes a variety of hikes from easy walking to challenging treks. When completed, through the efforts of many people, the trail will become the longest continuous hiking trail in the United States.


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Fire Island National Seashore - Ocean washed beaches, dunes, maritime forests, the Fire Island Light Station and the nearby William Floyd Estate, make this park a blend of recreation, natural and cultural resources. Located only one hour east of New York City, the park is a world apart from the bustling communities surrounding it. The 32-mile-long seashore contains natural features such as the Otis Pike Fire Island Wilderness, the only federal wilderness in New York, and the Sunken Forest, a 300-year-old holly forest.

Sagamore Hill National Historic Site - Sagamore Hill was the home of Theodore Roosevelt, 26th President of the United States, from 1886 until his death in 1919. During his presidency, from 1902 to 1908, this was the "Summer White House" and a focus of national attention. Otherwise, it was the home of a most remarkable fellow.

 

Capital-Saratoga

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Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor - The Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor covers 524 miles in Upstate New York, including four navigable waterways: Erie, Champlain, Oswego and Cayuga-Seneca; sections of the first Erie Canal; and over 200 municipalities adjacent to the canals. Recreation abounds along the Erie Canalway including more than 230 trail miles for biking and hiking along the corridor.

Saratoga National Historical Park - Site of the first significant American military victory during the Revolution, the Battles of Saratoga rank among the fifteen most decisive battles in world history. Here in 1777 American forces met, defeated and forced a major British army to surrender, an event which led France to recognize the independence of the United States and enter the war as a decisive military ally of the struggling Americans.

 

Thousand Island Seaway

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Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor - The Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor covers 524 miles in Upstate New York, including four navigable waterways: Erie, Champlain, Oswego and Cayuga-Seneca; sections of the first Erie Canal; and over 200 municipalities adjacent to the canals. Recreation abounds along the Erie Canalway including more than 230 trail miles for biking and hiking along the corridor.

 
The Adirondacks

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North Country National Scenic Trail - The North Country National Scenic Trail links scenic, natural, historic, and cultural areas in seven northern states. The approximately four thousand mile long trail incudes a variety of hikes from easy walking to challenging treks. When completed, through the efforts of many people, the trail will become the longest continuous hiking trail in the United States.

 
Central-Leatherstocking

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Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor - The Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor covers 524 miles in Upstate New York, including four navigable waterways: Erie, Champlain, Oswego and Cayuga-Seneca; sections of the first Erie Canal; and over 200 municipalities adjacent to the canals. Recreation abounds along the Erie Canalway including more than 230 trail miles for biking and hiking along the corridor.

Fort Stanwix National Monument - Built in 1758 to guard a strategic portage along a major transportation route, Fort Stanwix stands today as an inspiration to the people of the world. Fort Stanwix guarded the centuries old Oneida Carrying Place. This strategic Iroquois Confederacy portage in upstate New York bridged the waterways between the Atlantic Ocean and the Great Lakes.

North Country National Scenic Trail - The North Country National Scenic Trail links scenic, natural, historic, and cultural areas in seven northern states. The approximately four thousand mile long trail incudes a variety of hikes from easy walking to challenging treks. When completed, through the efforts of many people, the trail will become the longest continuous hiking trail in the United States.

 
Finger Lakes

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Chesapeake Bay Gateways Network - First thoughts of the Chesapeake Bay often bring up images of crabs and oysters. But, as the largest estuary in North America, the Chesapeake Bay has touched and influenced much of the American story – early settlement, commerce, the military, transportation, recreation and more. The Bay and its surrounding 64,000 square mile watershed hold a treasure trove of historic areas, natural wonders and recreational opportunities.

Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor - The Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor covers 524 miles in Upstate New York, including four navigable waterways: Erie, Champlain, Oswego and Cayuga-Seneca; sections of the first Erie Canal; and over 200 municipalities adjacent to the canals. Recreation abounds along the Erie Canalway including more than 230 trail miles for biking and hiking along the corridor.

North Country National Scenic Trail - The North Country National Scenic Trail links scenic, natural, historic, and cultural areas in seven northern states. The approximately four thousand mile long trail incudes a variety of hikes from easy walking to challenging treks. When completed, through the efforts of many people, the trail will become the longest continuous hiking trail in the United States.

Women's Rights National Historic Park - The Park commemorates the First Women's Rights Convention in 1848 and the early leaders of the women's rights movement in the United States. The Park features Visitor Center exhibits, orientation film, tours of Elizabeth Cady Stanton home, Wesleyan Chapel and more.

 

Greater Niagara

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Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor - The Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor covers 524 miles in Upstate New York, including four navigable waterways: Erie, Champlain, Oswego and Cayuga-Seneca; sections of the first Erie Canal; and over 200 municipalities adjacent to the canals. Recreation abounds along the Erie Canalway including more than 230 trail miles for biking and hiking along the corridor.

Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural National Historic Site - On September 14, 1901, Theodore Roosevelt took the oath of office as the 26th President of the United States in the Ansley Wilcox house after the assassination of President William McKinley. In addition, before becoming a National Historic Site, the house had a long and varied history as part of a U.S. Army Barracks, a prominent Buffalo residence and later a popular restaurant.