New York City, New York

It seemed like most of the passengers were on deck or in one of the lounges as we sailed into New York City early this morning. We passed under the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge and then sailed rather close to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. We all braved the wind to try and get the perfect photo.

Sailing by the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge, Statue of Liberty, and Ellis Island

The New York Skyline

Viking Polaris docked at Pier 88, located adjacent to the legendary aircraft carrier, Intrepid. We could see the nuclear weapons-carrying submarine, several military aircraft, a supersonic spy plane, and the Concorde, the world’s fastest commercial airliner, all of which were displayed on and around the Intrepid. Tim and I didn’t visit the museum, but we had a great view from our ship.

Several Tugboats Aided Us in Docking at Pier 88, Adjacent to the Intrepid Museum

Tim and I had debated what to do on our unexpected day in New York and decided to take the included tour to the 9/11Memorial and Museum in the afternoon. In the morning, we boarded a Hop-On Hop-Off Bus to see a bit of the city. Since I am still trying to visit as many National Park Units as possible, we were able to get on and off the bus and visit two units that were near the route.

The Theodore Roosevelt Birthplace National Historic Site is a typical New York brownstone. Located on what was once a quiet, tree-lined street in New York’s most fashionable residential district, the house was Roosevelt’s home from the time of his birth in 1858 until age 14. The house was demolished in 1916 but was reconstructed after his death as a memorial.

We arrived just in time for a tour of the rooms that have been restored to reflect their appearance between 1865 and 1872. Our volunteer guide was a fount of knowledge about TR and his life, but the 30-minute tour dragged on for almost one hour. Even I, a huge fan of TR, had heard enough for one visit.

Theodore Roosevelt Birthplace National Historic Site

After reboarding another bus, we made our way to Wall Street, where we got off to visit Federal Hall National Memorial. We were hungry by that time, but didn’t pass any places to eat. So, we settled for a hot dog from one of New York’s ubiquitous carts. It hit the spot.

The original building that stood on the site where Federal Hall is located is where George Washington was sworn in as first President of the United States on April 30, 1789. This site was also home to the first Congress, Supreme Court, and Executive Branch offices. The current structure, a Greek Revival style Customs House, was constructed in 1842, and it later served as one of six Federal Sub-Treasuries.

This National Park Unit serves as a memorial to our first President and the beginnings of the United States of America. Tim and I watched an introductory video and toured the exhibits that included a section of the railing and a stone from the balcony where the oath of office was taken. The bible on which Washington placed his hand was not on display at this time.

Unfortunately, Federal Hall is now surrounded by sidewalk scaffolding while the National Park Service conducts an in-depth condition assessment of the building façade. The statue of George Washington is still visible.

Federal Hall National Memorial

From Federal Hall, it was a short walk to the 9/11 Memorial and Museum. On the way, we passed the Memorial Wall, located on the side of FDNY Engine 10 Ladder 10, directly across from the World Trade Center site. The bas-relief sculpture is dedicated to the 343 members of the New York Fire Department who died on 9/11. A large inscription, spanning the length of the sculpture reads, “Dedicated to those who fell and those who carry on. May we never forget.”

The Memorial Wall

The 9/11 Memorial is located at the site of the former World Trade Center complex and features twin reflecting pools with the largest man-made waterfalls in North America. Despite the number of people at the Memorial, I found it to be a peaceful and calming place that enabled me to reflect on that horrible day.

The inscriptions in the bronze parapets surrounding the reflecting pools include the names of all victims who died as a direct result of injuries sustained in the attacks. I was struck by the flowers inserted next to many of the names, as well as the extreme care taken by those who maintain this site.

The 9/11 Memorial

Tim and I met our Viking group at the entrance to the 9/11 Museum, which we then toured on our own. The Museum is sited at bedrock, where the foundation of the Twin Towers once stood, seven stories below the Memorial. The exhibitions took us through that day, starting with the story of the attacks, their aftermath, and the people who experienced these events.

Viewing the exhibits was a very emotional experience, and I soon found that I could handle no more images. For me, it would take multiple visits to do justice to the exhibits. I would also consider booking a private tour that would explain the meaning and significance of many of the elements presented there.

The 9/11 Museum

We returned to Viking Polaris after dark and soon thereafter, sailed back out to sea. We passed the skyline of Manhattan with its many illuminated buildings, and then the Statue of Liberty.

Sailing Away from New York City

It was a full day in the city, and I’m glad Tim and I will be staying there for five days when we disembark in New York after our Viking World Voyage.