The Battery

The Battery is a park at the southern tip of Manhattan in New York City, United States. The grounds cover roughly 25 acres (10 hectares) along the waterfront and include lawns, tree plantings, paved walkways, and several monuments spread across different sections.

Dutch settlers built an artillery battery here in the 17th century to protect their colony, giving the site its name. The city converted the grounds into a public park in the early 1800s after the area served military and commercial purposes for generations.

Castle Clinton stands in the park and its circular stone walls show how the building served different purposes over time, from fortress to immigration station. Visitors walk through its thick masonry today and see exhibits that explain how millions of newcomers passed through this structure before reaching the city.

Ferry terminals sit at the western edge and provide direct access to boats heading to nearby islands. Visitors reach the park easily on foot from downtown and find public restrooms and seating areas along the main pathways.

The SeaGlass Carousel near the waterfront promenade places visitors inside glowing fish-shaped capsules that spin on multiple axes, mimicking an underwater world. This installation uses an unusual mechanism that allows each gondola to rotate independently while casting colored light through its translucent walls.

Location: Manhattan

Inception: 1823

Operator: New York City Department of Parks and Recreation

Part of: The Battery

Website: https://thebattery.org

GPS coordinates: 40.70361,-74.01611

Latest update: December 14, 2025 22:30