Roosevelt Island (New York, USA) — description, history, location, reviews, photos and videos.
The narrow strip of land stretched along the East River and cut in half by the Queensboro Bridge is not often visited by tourists. But New Yorkers themselves have already managed to appreciate the charm of this quiet corner between the ever-boiling Manhattan and Queens. Roosevelt Island has become an outlet where they leisurely walk or run in the morning along the well-groomed embankments. Gradually, an ecological settlement within the metropolis was formed here, new houses are populated by politicians, diplomats and show business stars. Although until recently, this territory caused only horror and disgust among the towns people. See itypetravel for geostatistics of New Mexico.
A bit of history
It is not known for what price the Dutch in 1637 bought the island from the local Canarsie Indians. However, they failed to gain a foothold here, the British captured New Amsterdam, and a certain captain John Manning settled here. According to the will, the estate went to his son-in-law Robert Blackwell, who renamed the island in his honor. So it was called until 1928, when the city authorities bought this piece of land and built a prison hospital on it. It was followed by an asylum for the mentally ill, a colony for petty offenders, a quarantine for those infected with smallpox. The conditions of detention in them were terrible, because of which a loud scandal erupted in the middle of the 19th century.
A century later, all correctional facilities were liquidated, the northern part of the island was built up with new houses, and an elite area with mansions was formed in the middle. Finally, a park was laid out on the narrow southern cape and a memorial was erected to the 32nd US President Franklin D. Roosevelt, who once served as governor of New York.
What to watch
Even after the construction of the Queensboro Bridge in the early 20th century, the island remained the city’s most inaccessible area. There was no exit to it, people went down in an elevator. Now it has been dismantled, and the terminal station of the Roosevelt Island Tramway is equipped at this place. Red trailers at a height of 76 m deliver up to 150 passengers.
An additional bonus is that the powerful structures of the Queensboro Bridge and the panorama of Manhattan are perfectly visible from the windows.
The island’s most famous landmark is the Octagon, an octagonal building made from local blue-gray stone. Once it served as the main building of a psychiatric hospital, and now it has become the central building of a modern residential complex. Two buildings built using “green” technologies are attached on both sides. Another historical object is the 15-meter lighthouse tower on the southern tip of the island. Rumor has it that it was built in 1872 by a madman who feared a British invasion. The lighthouse was abandoned for a long time, but now it has been restored and even shines, although it has long lost its navigational significance.
The main attraction is the Four Freedoms Park on the narrow southern cape. Alleys along the coast converge at one point, where a huge bronze head of President Roosevelt stands in a marble box. On the back wall of the monument is a quote from his speech that a person needs freedom of speech and religion, as well as freedom from poverty and fear.
The special charm of the island is the beautiful views from its embankments to the famous skyscrapers of Manhattan and Queens. Tourists wander for hours along the coast, recognizing the silhouettes of the United Nations building, the Empire State and other famous buildings familiar from advertising brochures.
Roosevelt Island regularly hosts festivals, jazz music concerts, conferences and workshops.
Practical Information
Address: New York, Manhattan. Website.
How to get there: by metro to st. Roosevelt Island; by cable car from Tramway Plaza at 2nd Avenue and 60th Street in Manhattan; by car across the Roosevelt Island Bridge from Queens.
Madison square garden
Madison Square Garden (USA) – description, history, location. Exact address, phone number, website. Reviews of tourists, photos and videos.
Performing at the legendary Madison Square Garden arena is the dream of many athletes and musicians. Tourists who are eager to comprehend the peculiarities of the American national character should visit a hockey game with the New York Rangers or a basketball game with the New York Knicks, to whom this stadium is home. In addition, wrestling and boxing fights take place here, the Du Soleil circus performs, and concerts are held.
Madison Square Garden is a masterpiece of modern building technology. It was erected over the existing Pennsylvania Station, without even stopping the movement of trains.
During the last reconstruction of the hall, a bridge was mounted under the ceiling over the arena, the audience climbs here along the stairs and sees the spectacle from the most unusual angle – from above.
You can get behind the scenes by signing up for a tour. Visitors are shown training halls and locker rooms, a small museum of home teams, a gallery of photographs of artists and athletes performing here with their autographs. Children are allowed to stand at the gate or toss into the basket of America’s most famous playing field.
Practical Information
Address: New York, 4 Pennsylvania Plaza. Website (in English).
How to get there: by metro to st. 34th Street-Penn Station; buses No. M7, M20 to the stop. 7 Av/w 34 St.
Tour service hours: daily from 9:30 to 15:00. Ticket price for adults 35 USD, pensioners, students and children over 12 years old – 30 USD. Prices on the page are for July 2021.