Jersey City in the state of New Jersey is a big city located just across the Hudson River from Manhattan. Jersey City has a rich history that dates back to the early 17th century when it was first settled by the Dutch. Originally known as Paulus Hook, the area played a significant role during the American Revolutionary War, serving as a strategic military post. By the 19th century, Jersey City had transformed into a busy industrial hub, attracting immigrants from around the world, just like neighboring New York City.
Throughout the 19th and 20th centuries, Jersey City continued to grow and evolve. It became a major transportation center with the development of railroads and shipping terminals, including the iconic Central Railroad of New Jersey Terminal. This period also saw the rise of manufacturing industries, with companies like Colgate and Dixon Ticonderoga establishing operations in the city. Today, Jersey City is a thriving urban center known for not least stunning waterfront views to the Manhattan skyline.
The historic downtown is the Paulus Hook, located to the Hudson River with modern highrises towards the waterfront, where you also find the famous Colgate Clock, visible from Manhattan. Being a center of banking and finance, the district achieved the nickname Wall Street West, and residential skyscrapers are numerous as well. There are quite a few highrises taller than 200 meters, but you can also see some historic skyscrapers. The first one was Labor Bank Building, now known as 26 Journal Square, which was completed in 1928 as a height of 58 meters.
You can also find some other heritage buildings and architectural gems in the streets of Jersey City. Close to 26 Journal Square, you find the Loew’s Jersey Theatre, which is a magnificent example of Baroque and Rococo design. The historic theatre opened in 1929, and it has since been meticulously restored and now serves as a venue for films, concerts, and other events. The theater’s opulent interior, with its grand chandeliers and many details takes you back to the golden age of movie palaces.
Another notable landmark is the Central Railroad of New Jersey Terminal. It is located at the edge of the Hudson River in Liberty State Park with stunning panoramic views to the skylines of both Manhattan and Jersey City. The terminal was built in 1889, and it was the starting point for many of the immigrants arriving at Ellis Island. Its industrial architecture make it a see-worthy place, and you can explore the terminal and learn about its role in the history of immigration and transportation in the United States.
Next to the station you can visit the Empty Sky, which is the official New Jersey September 11 memorial to the state’s victims of the September 11 attacks in 2001. You can also enjoy some lovely walk in Liberty State Park, where you find walking paths and some monuments, like the Columbus Monument. From the waterfront promenade you can see Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty. Both places are accessible by ferry. The park is also home to the Liberty Science Center, an interactive museum that delights visitors of all ages with its hands-on exhibits and planetarium shows.
New York City is a metropolis, also known as the Big Apple, and it is the epitome of the United States and much of what the United States stands for in diversity, opportunities and freedom. It is an international metropolis that attracts tourists from all over the world all year round, and there is always something exciting to see and do in this, the largest American city.
Upon entering the city the Statue of Liberty stands as a symbol of the land of the free and the American dream, which has always been popular among immigrants and tourists alike. The statue goddess overlooks Manhattan’s mix of the many classic and modern skyscrapers, bridges, rivers and many other sights and features.
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Trenton is the capital and one of the largest cities in the US state of New Jersey. Its history began when English Quakers settled here in 1679. In 1719, the town was named Trenttowne after William Trent, who had acquired much of the area’s land from the family of the first Quaker leader. Trenttowne was later shortened to the present Trenton. In 1776, the Battle of Trenton was fought around the city, and it was George Washington’s first military victory during the American Revolutionary War.
After the war, New England and several northern states wanted Trenton to be the nation’s capital, but the South demanded that the capital be located south of the Mason-Dixon line. Trenton instead became New Jersey’s capital in 1790. Trenton grew steadily throughout the 1800s, when much of the surrounding city was merged with the capital, and where the iron and steel industry provided many jobs.
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Philadelphia is one of the historically important cities of the United States, and it was even the capital of the country in the years 1790-1800. In the town of the Delaware River, there are countless sights and lots of early American history that give intriguing impressions from the time around the American Revolution.
It was in Philadelphia that the American Declaration of Independence of Great Britain was adopted, and in that way the city has a special status in the history of the United States. This can be looked at in more detail in Independence Hall, which formed the setting for both the declaration and for the adoption of the US Constitution.
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