New York

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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Statue of Liberty

The Statue of Liberty is located on a small island in the entrance to New York. For many, it is a landmark and a symbol of both New York City and the United States. The 46 meter high statue was erected in 1886, and it was a gift from the French people on the occasion of the USA’s 100th anniversary. The original and much smaller Statue of Liberty can be seen on an island in the Seine in central Paris.

The huge statue was designed by Frenchman Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi. The statue represents the Roman goddess Libertas, who is the personification of freedom. The goddess carries a torch in one hand and a law book in the other. On it is written July 4, 1776, which is the date of the American Declaration of Independence. At the feet of the statue is a broken chain as a physical symbol of a freedom won.

Today you can take a walk around the statue on top of the high plinth and enjoy the view of New York City and over the harbor. Inside the massive plinth is a museum where you can take a closer look at the construction of the Statue of Liberty and the history of the monument. There is also limited access to the crown of the goddess, and until 1916 you could also visit the viewing platform around the torch.

The island on which the Statue of Liberty stands has been called Liberty Island since 1956. Previously it was known as Bedloe’s Island, which was named after Isaac Bedlow, who owned it from 1667. It came into the ownership of the city in the 18th century, and in 1800 it was sold to the federal government, which erected Fort Wood here as one of New York’s advanced defenses. Fort Wood’s star-shaped bastions today form the lower base of the Statue of Liberty. Formally part of Manhattan, the island remains today owned by the United States federal government.
 

Ellis Island

Ellis Island is a small island that was the place where the ancestors of up to a third of the United States’ population first set foot on American soil. The facility on the island was a central reception point for immigrants in the period 1892-1924, when a total of more than 22 million people came to the island.

The current buildings were opened in the year 1900 in a fine French Renaissance style. The facilities were built to handle up to 5,000 people a day, but over the following decades the island’s capacity was continually expanded.

1907 was the year in which the most immigrants arrived. It amounted to a total of over a million, and in just one day, 11,747 people came to the site. In 1924, restrictions on immigration to the United States were introduced, and as a result Ellis Island’s function was gradually minimized to finally close in 1954.

The island was opened to visitors in 1976 and you can see the facilities and history of Ellis Island on a visit here. You can also look at family portraits and immigrant stories that put the great immigration to the United States in perspective.

Ellis Island was  named after the merchant Samuel Ellis, who owned the island at the end of the 18th century, and whose heirs sold the island to the state of New York.

Trenton

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

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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Allentown

Allentown is a city in the state of Pennsylvania. It was founded in 1762 by William Allen, a prominent Philadelphia merchant and former mayor. Allentown was originally named Northampton Town, but later named after its founder. The city played a significant role during the American Revolutionary War, when it served as a hiding place for the Liberty Bell to protect it from British forces.

Over the years, Allentown has grown from a small colonial settlement into a busy urban center, becoming the third-largest city in Pennsylvania. In the 19th century, Allentown’s strategic location along the Lehigh River and the construction of the Lehigh Canal spurred industrial growth.

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Albany

Albany is the capital city of the state of New York. It has a rich history that dates back to the early 17th century. The area was originally inhabited by the Mohican and Iroquois tribes before European exploration. In 1609, English explorer Henry Hudson claimed the area for the Dutch, leading to the establishment of Fort Nassau in 1614 and Fort Orange in 1624. These trading posts attracted settlers, and the village of Beverwijck was founded around Fort Orange.

In 1664, the English took control and renamed the settlement Albany, in honor of the Duke of Albany, the future James II of England. The city was officially chartered in 1686, making it one of the oldest continuously chartered cities in the United States.

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Hartford

Hartford is the capital of the US state of Connecticut. The area was explored in the early 17th century, and the Dutch West India Company established Fort Hoop in the southern part of present-day Hartford. English settlers came here in 1635 and founded the actual settlement, which in 1637 was named Hartford. In 1662, the city became the capital of the colony of Connecticut, and in the following decades and throughout the 18th century, the city grew to around 3,000 inhabitants.

From the middle of the 1800s, Hartford developed into a city with a significant industry, and among the many companies were Samuel Colt’s gun production and Albert Pope’s bicycle factory. The development brought more inhabitants, and from 13,500 citizens in 1850, the number rose to almost 80,000 in the year 1900. Growth continued through the 1900s, when downtown’s modern skyline with office buildings was also developed.

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