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| Liberty Island - Statue of Liberty
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Ellis Island
New York Harbor is a very busy place with lots of pleasure boats of all types, ferry boats, police and Coast Guard boats as well as large cargo, passenger, tankers, construction vessels docked and moving around. The route we were taking had us in the lower part of the Hudson River where it joins New York Harbor and goes on out under the Verrazano Narrows Bridge to the Atlantic Ocean. I found it interesting that when we are on our lakes fishing etc. there are " No wake" zones. Not so in the harbor. Boats go by at great speed and create a pretty big wake which rocks even a large ferry like we were on. Now I am sure there are speeds which the larger vessels have to abide by but still they move a lot of water as they pass through it. Some of the views in and from the ferry follow:
Tour Boat Traffic
Look At All Them Boats Mr Dillon ( Gun Smoke lingo )
Lower Manhattan
Lower Manhattan On Left - Brooklyn On The Right
Tower Replacing One Of The Twin Towers
That Was Destroyed In The Terrorist Attack
Staten Island Ferry - Newark, New Jersey
Are The Buildings In Background
Fire In Some Dock Area Miles Down
In The Harbor
As I mentioned earlier the ferry makes a couple of swings by the Statue of Liberty. Actually it goes by it then turns around and goes back by it so people on either side of the ferry get a clear view of the statue. There is another ferry trip that takes you to the Liberty Island. The following comments are summarized in part from some of the Statue Of Liberty literature and my own musings. Our Lady Liberty was herself an immigrant. In 1865 a group of French intellectuals were protesting what they saw as political repression in France decided to honor the ideals of freedom and liberty with a symbolic gift to the United States. The timing was right. The Civil War was over, slavery was abolished and the nation looked forward to the centennial celebration. This was a time of monument building in the United States. A sculptor friend of one of the protesters seized the opportunity to create a modern-day Colossus. Twenty-one years later " Liberty Enlightening the World " stood in New York Harbor. Over the years Liberty started to change from the " Mother of Exiles " to the use of her image to encourage the buying of war bonds or encouraging enlistment in the military. I can never forget the pictures of Lady Liberty saying " along with the image of " Uncle Sam " pointing a finger at you saying I want you " on the recruiting posters. Even more years past and her image has been used repeatedly in political movements, selling furniture, cars and every thing else and for worldwide tourism to see the original statue in its original setting more wonderful, meaning and wondrous.
" The New Colossus " by Emma Lazarus, 1883 has the following word, " Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame, With Conquering limbs astride from land to land, Here at our sea-washed, sunset-gate shall stand a mighty women with a torch, whose flame is the imprisoned lighting, and her name Mother of Exiles. From her beacon-hand Glows world-wide welcome, her mild eyes command The air-bridged harbor that twin-cities frame. " Keep, ancient lands, your storied pomp! cries she, with silent lips. " Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, The wretched refuse of your teeming shore; Send these, the homeless, temptest-tost to me,I lift my lamp beside the golden door!" his poem was written in an effort to help raise funds for the construction of the foundation upon which the statue would sit.
Isn't that wonderful? I get chills every time I read that. If only we all felt that way and acknowledge that God has made this all possible. What a God.
The early history of Liberty Island reportedly goes back to A. D. 994 when Native Americans begin to live on the island. This island is one of the three " Oyster Islands " in New York Harbor and gets the name from the numerous shell fish beds in and around the island. For the Native Americans this served as a major source of food.
In 1609 Henry Hudson lands in New York Harbor and Europeans start colonization of the area which included the Oyster Islands. Because of war, disease and occupation the Native Americans were forced to move north and west.
In 1667 Issac Bedloe a Dutch colonist obtained a land grant for the Oyster Islands and was forced to name the Island " Love Island ".
In 1673 Bedloe died and Love Island was renamed Bedloe's Island and the following year the British took control.
In 1732 the island was sold by Bedloe's widow because of bankruptcy to New York merchants. In 1738 New York took control and used the island as a quarantine station inspecting incoming ships for contamination and disease. Over the next 20 years the island was a private residence, quarantine station due to an outbreak of smallpox, and a hospital. During the American Revolution it was used as an asylum for Troy sympathizers ( these were people who were loyal to Great Britain during the war ). Following the American Revolution there were rising tension between the United States, England and France so federal money was appropriated to construct fortifications on Bedloe's Island. This fortification was a 11 point star fort to aid in protection of New York Harbor and was named Fort Wood. It was active until the out break of the Civil War at which time it served as a recruiting station and ordinance depot.The military unit at Fort Wood was disbanded in 1877 but the United States Army maintained supervision of an ordinance facility on Bedloe's Island until 1937.
In 1834 an interesting interstate agreement between New Jersey and New York places Bedloe's Island ( the land above low level water mark ) within New York while New Jersey retains rights to waters and all submerged land surrounding the island.
The early history of Liberty Island reportedly goes back to A. D. 994 when Native Americans begin to live on the island. This island is one of the three " Oyster Islands " in New York Harbor and gets the name from the numerous shell fish beds in and around the island. For the Native Americans this served as a major source of food.
In 1609 Henry Hudson lands in New York Harbor and Europeans start colonization of the area which included the Oyster Islands. Because of war, disease and occupation the Native Americans were forced to move north and west.
In 1667 Issac Bedloe a Dutch colonist obtained a land grant for the Oyster Islands and was forced to name the Island " Love Island ".
In 1673 Bedloe died and Love Island was renamed Bedloe's Island and the following year the British took control.
In 1732 the island was sold by Bedloe's widow because of bankruptcy to New York merchants. In 1738 New York took control and used the island as a quarantine station inspecting incoming ships for contamination and disease. Over the next 20 years the island was a private residence, quarantine station due to an outbreak of smallpox, and a hospital. During the American Revolution it was used as an asylum for Troy sympathizers ( these were people who were loyal to Great Britain during the war ). Following the American Revolution there were rising tension between the United States, England and France so federal money was appropriated to construct fortifications on Bedloe's Island. This fortification was a 11 point star fort to aid in protection of New York Harbor and was named Fort Wood. It was active until the out break of the Civil War at which time it served as a recruiting station and ordinance depot.The military unit at Fort Wood was disbanded in 1877 but the United States Army maintained supervision of an ordinance facility on Bedloe's Island until 1937.
In 1834 an interesting interstate agreement between New Jersey and New York places Bedloe's Island ( the land above low level water mark ) within New York while New Jersey retains rights to waters and all submerged land surrounding the island.
Statue of Liberty
Beautiful Lady
Statue Of Liberty
Statue Of Liberty
The early ideas of development of the Statue of Liberty was discussed earlier and of course we know she was a gift to the United States from France. She was constructed in France starting in 1876 and finished in about 1884. The statue hand holding the torch was the first portion finished, sent to the United States and displayed at the Centennial Exposition in Philadelphia on May 18,1876. In 1877 the Statue's torch was displayed in Madison Square in New York City and remained there until 1882. In 1878 The statue's head and shoulders were completed and displayed for the first time at the Paris Universal Exposition. During 1879 and 1880 many problems arose about the statue's structure and assembly. A 98 foot inner iron framework was devised to support the statue's structure. In 1881 the statue's copper plates are completed and assembly begins in Paris. The French people fall in love with her and they refer to her as "The Lady Of The Park". On July 4, 1884 the completed statue is formally presented to the United States Minister to France. The statue is disassembled and shipped to the United States aboard a French naval vessel and arrives in New York Harbor on June 17, 1885. She is put in storage for a year while the pedestal that she will stand on is finished. She is more than a monument, she is a beloved friend and living symbol of freedom to millions of people worldwide. The Statue of Liberty's construction in Paris holds great significance for it is a tapestry of old symbols woven together to create new meaning. Her classical face and drapery suggest a Roman Goddess of Liberty; the broken shackles symbolize freedom newly achieved; the radiant crown represents her shedding light on the seven seas and continents.The tablet she holds has the inscription in Roman Numerals " July 4, 1776 " identifies her as a symbol of American freedom, law, and justice.
The opening of the immigration center on Ellis Island saw almost 14 million immigrants entered between 1886 and 1924 and the Statue of Liberty was a reassuring sign that they saw when they entered New York Harbor that they had arrived in the land of their dreams. One of the ideas of the uplifted torch was that of enlightenment but to these immigrants it represented " welcome " and as stated earlier the Statue of Liberty emerged as the " Mother of Exiles ", a symbol of hope to generations of immigrants.
Over the years repair and additions to the statue have taken place all without altering the original statue appearance. Right now Liberty Island is closed due to Hurricane Sandy. One final note. The only way for the public to reach the statue is by ferry boat since private boats are not permitted to dock at Liberty Island.
Next will be some information about Ellis Island. Until then enjoy these comments and photographs. I guess I should note the photograph of the statues head and arm was all lined up to show her head, arm and torch but just at the worse time someone bumped me so the torch is missing. On this type of ferry ride you seldom get a redo and this was one of those times.
Again, I thank God for the blessings and protection He has provided to us over time and pray that we will be deserving of His future protection and blessings. Thank you Lord.
I love you all. Grandpa Bill.
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