Castle Clinton National Monument

Enjoying some October fog at the monument this morning. If you want to visit us or the Statue of Liberty & Ellis Island before it really starts to cool off, tickets for the ferry can be purchased on site or in advance at www.statuecruises.com. Please be sure to check the ferry schedule in advance to plan your visit accordingly. Get the latest information on Castle Clinton NM here: https://www.nps.gov/cacl/planyourvisit/conditions.htm ... -ZB

Happy Constitution Day, and Happy Citizenship Day! On September 17, 1787, the Founding Fathers signed the U.S. Constitution. Each year, on this day, Americans celebrate Constitution Day and Citizenship Day. Between 1855 and 1890, over 8 million people arrived in America at Castle Clinton and began their lives as new residents of the United States. The National Park Service preserves the stories of people who come from all over the world, and whether in centuries past or in th...e present day, these places play an integral role in so many people’s American story. Every year, many National Park sites (including those in New York Harbor) host naturalization ceremonies for new U.S. citizens. What is a place that stands out as important in your American story? For more on Citizenship Ceremonies in our National Parks, check out https://www.nps.gov/subjects/partnerships/newcitizens.htm Photos: Naturalization ceremonies at Ellis Island and the Grand Canyon) -ZB

Please check Statue of Liberty National Monument's facebook page or https://www.nps.gov/stli/index.htm for the latest on operating status and hours for both the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. Castle Clinton National Monument remains open 7:45am to 5pm, but please consult https://www.statuecruises.com/departure-schedule/ for current ferry schedules to plan your trip accordingly! -ZB

Around 1807-1808, tensions between Great Britain and the United States continued to build. In response, American harbor cities began to build forts to increase their protection. New York Harbor, which had experienced invasion by the British during the Revolutionary War, began construction of four new forts. This one, completed in 1811, has been called several different names over the years. Do you know its original name? -ZB

In the latter years of Castle Clinton’s operation as an immigration center, the scene that greeted people as they entered the United States for the first time was a chaotic one. After being processed, new immigrants were frequently met by many who hoped to take advantage of them. Kesselgarten, as it was called by Yiddish-speaking Eastern European Jews, gained such a reputation that the phrase became a generic term for any noisy, confusing, or chaotic situation. Today, things are a bit calmer at Castle Clinton, but if you are confused, a ranger can help you get oriented! -ZB

Did you know that for 34 years, Castle Clinton (then called Castle Garden) served as the nation’s official immigrant processing center? On this day in 1855, Castle Garden began functioning as an immigrant landing depot. Over 8 million people entered the United States through Castle Garden! During that period, two out of three people immigrating here passed through its gates. Come visit us to learn more about Castle Clinton's significant and varied history! -ZB

Castle Clinton National Monument is currently open to the public from 7:45 AM until 5:00 PM everyday. All inside exhibits are currently closed, but the inside of the battery and grounds are open. Tickets for Statue of Liberty NM can be purchased on site or at https://www.statuecruises.com/. For the latest information regarding reopening of the Statue of Liberty, visit https://www.nps.gov/stli/index.htm. Social distancing is encouraged when visiting Castle Clinton NM. We look forward to seeing you!

#Womenshistorymonth Rachel Carson 1907-1964 A marine and nature writer who worked for the US Fish and Wildlife Service as editor and writer of brochures for the public. ... She wrote several books about the ocean but is best known for the book "Silent Spring" which focused on the effects of chemicals pesticides on nature. She also wrote about its impact on humans, including cancer. The book led to a ban of DDT and other pesticides. It also ultimately created the Environmental Protection Agency.

#Womenshistorymonth Dian Fossey 1932-1985 Studied Mountain Gorillas on Virunga Mountain in the Congo until political unrest moved the research to the Ruwandan side of the mountain. She wrote "Gorillas in the Mist" about her study of the gorillas. ... Poaching was a huge problem in the national park and Fossey funded patrols to destroy poachers traps. She also fought to keep tourism from the gorillas since humans could pass diseases to the primates. Dian Fossey was found murdered in her cabin at the national park in 1985.

#Womenshistorymonth Dr Jane Goodall 1934 - AS a 26 year she ventured into the forest of Gombe and opened the eyes of the world to Chimpanzees. In her field research she showed that chimpanzees could make and use tools which is considered one of the greatest achievements of 20th century scholarship. Dr. Goodall still lecture about the protection of chimpanzees and about environmental protections.

#Womenshistorymonth Onna-Bugeisha - Female Samurai Warriors 200AD-1886 Onna-Bugeisha Were taught to fight exactly as their male counterparts using a special weapon called the Naginata. They fought to protect their homes and country until the fall of the Shogunate in the late 1800's

Sybil Ludington 1761-1839 April 26, 1777 16 year old Sybil warned of a British attack on Danbury CT. Sybil rode 40 miles around Putnam County spreading the alarm and gathering the militia

#Womenshistorymonth Lady Ada King, Countess of Lovelace "Ada Lovelace" first computer programmer. 1815-1852 Ada was the daughter of Lord Byron and Anne Isabelle Milbanke Lady Wentworth. Ada came by her love of numbers from her mother who was a known mathematician. ... Ada is credited with writing the first computer program based an the Babbage Analytical Engine. This "computer" use punch cards to input and output data. She said the machine could predict Bernoulli numbers, which is considered the first computer. She also predicted the machine could compose music and make graphs. Ada Lovelace Day is celebrated the second Tuesday in October

#Womenshistorymonth Anne Frank 1929 - 1945 Born in Germany the family moved to the Netherlands in 1933 as Adolf Hitler rose to power in Germany. The Netherlands fell to the Germans in 1940 placing restrictions on Jews living there. In 1942 Anne and her family moved into a secret Annex built at her fathers old business. Anne began her diary during the 2 yrs she spent at the Annex. In 1944 the Annex was raided and the Frank family was arrested along with 4 others living there. ...The Frank family were sent to Auschwitz. Later Anne and her sister Margot are sent to Bergen-Belson where they died of Typhus in 1945. Otto Frank, Anne's father, was the only member of the family to survive. He went back to the Netherlands where he learned his secretary saved Anne's diary and writing. He was encouraged to publish them and in 1947 Het Achtehuis (The Secret Annex) was publish. Since then it has been translated into 70 languages and adapted to screen and movies.