What if these old grounds could talk? The Battery, formerly known as Battery Park, has seen centuries of New York City history unfold right beneath its feet. It is a 25-acre public park at the southern tip of Manhattan Island.
Originally inhabited by the Lenape Native Americans, the area became part of the Dutch settlement of New Amsterdam in the early 17th century. The Dutch called this area “Capske Hook” or “Capsie Hoek”. The term came from the Lenape word “Kapsee” that meant “rocky ledge”.
Later, the British took over in 1664. They installed an artillery battery at the fort in 1683. This gave the area its name. The Battery did not fire any shots until 1776.
During the American Revolutionary War, American troops commandeered the fort. They fired on British ships in an unsuccessful attempt to prevent them from sailing up the Hudson River. After the British landed at Kip’s Bay, the Americans abandoned the fort. The British took Lower Manhattan.
In 1783, at the end of the war, the Battery was the center of Evacuation Day celebrations. The event commemorated the departure of the last British troops in the United States.
By 1788, Fort George had been demolished. Debris from the fort expanded the Battery. In 1808 to 1811, just before the War of 1812, the West Battery was erected on a small artificial offshore island. It replaced the earlier batteries in the area.
The West Battery was never used. After the war, the artillery battery was renamed Castle Clinton. When Battery Park’s landmass was created, it encircled and incorporated the island.
By the 1840s, the city’s elite called for a new large park in Manhattan. An alternate suggestion was to enlarge the existing Battery Park. Wealthy merchants opposed the expansion of Battery Park. They deemed the proposed enlargement dangerous to maritime traffic.
The relatively modern Battery Park was mostly created by landfill. It was part of Lower Manhattan expansion starting from 1855. The landfill united Castle Garden’s island with the “mainland” of Manhattan.
Several elevated railroad lines were built to Battery Park by the late 19th century. Because the els were originally pulled by steam trains until 1902, this caused substantial pollution.
By the 20th century, Battery Park declined. Several new structures were proposed within the park. In 1940, Battery Park was partially closed for the construction of the Brooklyn–Battery Tunnel. The aquarium was shuttered.
After the underpass was completed in 1951, the park was re-landscaped. It reopened on July 15, 1952. In Battery Park’s new layout, it contained a landscaped esplanade, a raised waterfront terrace, and an oval lawn with a playground.
In 1994, the nonprofit Battery Conservancy was created. One of its first actions was to create an architectural plan for the park.
Although Battery Park was used as an emergency staging site after the September 11 attacks in 2001, construction on the upper promenade continued. It opened in December 2001.
The New York City Department of Parks and Recreation restored the park’s original, historical title of “The Battery” in 2015.
The Battery contains multiple attractions and points of interest. Castle Clinton lies near the northwestern corner of the Battery. To its north is Pier A. Located nearby is the Battery Bosque. The northeastern corner hosts the Battery Oval. The southwestern corner of the Battery contains the SeaGlass Carousel. The southeastern corner contains Peter Minuit Plaza.
The park is also the site of numerous memorials and monuments placed there over the years. In 2016, the Battery Conservancy said that the park saw about 7.2 million visitors per year.
The Battery stands as a testament to New York’s resilience and evolution. It is a place where history, culture, and natural beauty converge. From its early days as a strategic defense point to its current role as a beloved public space, The Battery continues to captivate and inspire all who visit.