Guide
Explore New York City
Gotham, The Big Apple, The City that Never Sleeps ... no matter what name you know it by, New York City offers an incredible array of history, architecture, and preservation stories. Once you've had your fill of Times Square, consider exploring these other unique spots on and off the grid.
-
Photo By: Duncan Kendall
The New York State Pavilion
Architect Philip Johnson designed the New York State Pavilion for the 1964-65 World’s Fair, which drew an estimated 51 million visitors to Flushing Meadows-Corona Park for a celebration of culture, technology, and “man's achievement on a shrinking globe in an expanding universe.” Listed on the National Register of Historic Places and named a National Treasure, the New York State Pavilion is a remarkable relic not only of World’s Fair architecture, but also of this fascinating era in American history.
-
Tenement Museum
For more than two decades, the Tenement Museum has fulfilled its mission to make tangible the profound role immigration plays in shaping American identity. The museum forges powerful emotional connections between visitors and immigrants past and present, and unforgettably evokes the history of immigration on Manhattan’s Lower East Side. Book your tour today to experience America’s iconic immigrant neighborhood through this National Trust Historic Site.
-
Photo By: Istock
Federal Hall National Memorial
Long a public gathering place for events like the 1929 stock market crash and Armistice Day rallies, as well as a place of respite and reflection after the September 11, 2001 attacks, Federal Hall—a masterpiece of Greek Revival architecture and the site of more than 300 years of government activity—is a touchstone for the founding ideals of American democracy and capitalism. Once you've snapped your selfie with George on the steps, head inside this National Treasure for a special self-guided tour.
-
Photo By: New York Studio School
Whitney Studio
As the art studio and salon of the sculptor and arts patron Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney (1875–1942), the Whitney Studio was at the center of the development of the early modern art movement in America, borne out of Mrs. Whitney’s tremendous advocacy on behalf of living American artists. This National Treasure is now reopened to the public for guided tours.
-
Photo By: NPCA
The Stonewall Inn
Located at 53 Christopher Street in the heart of New York City’s West Village, the Stonewall Inn is a historic bar famed as the site of the riots that helped launch the LGBT civil rights movement. In June 2016, President Barack Obama designated Stonewall and the area surrounding it as the country’s first national monument dedicated to LGBT history. Stop by to toast this important chapter in American civil rights history.
-
Photo By: Doug Schneider Photography/Moment Open/Getty Images
The Palisades
Across the Hudson River from Manhattan, the cliffs of the Palisades in New Jersey were designated a National Historic Landmark in 1965. About 12 miles long, 1/2 mile wide, and comprising about 2500 acres of shorelands, uplands, and cliffs, the Palisades Interstate Park provides visual and physical access to natural grandeur for millions in the metro area.
-
Photo By: Historic New England/David Bohl
Villa Lewaro (Madam C. J. Walker Estate)
Madam C.J. Walker was a cosmetics and business pioneer recognized as America's first, self-made female millionaire. Developing beauty and hair products for black women, she trained nearly 23,000 sales agents and workers, serving customers in the United States, Central America, and the Caribbean. Her impressive estate, designed by African-American architect Vertner Tandy, embodies the optimism and perseverance of the entrepreneurial spirit.
-
Photo By: Brian Thomson/The Ethan James Foundation
Lyndhurst
Lyndhurst, a National Historic Landmark in Tarrytown, is widely acknowledged as one of the finest Gothic Revival mansions in America. The sprawling estate is emblematic of the enormous financial and maintenance challenges faced by historic sites across the nation. When you've had your fill of the city proper, head out to this gorgeous National Trust Historic Site for a dose of restorative beauty.
-
Photo By: Ron Blunt
Kykuit
Completed in 1913 for American businessman and philanthropist John D. Rockefeller, Kykuit has been home to four generations of the Rockefeller family. The Beaux Arts house and elaborate Italian-style gardens make this community resource a beautiful backdrop to a wide array of programs, including museum visits, lectures, cultural events, and artist residencies.