----New York for Kids Part 7----
Dear Postcards from New York Reader,
Each year as we approach President’s Day, my thoughts always turn to George Washington more often than Abraham Lincoln because of his many associations with our great city. New York was the nation's first Capital and the site of many Revolutionary War skirmishes and episodes. The founding fathers fort fierce battles, held secret meetings, planned and plotted military occupations right from here. Our first President took his oath of office on Wall Street where his bronze statue now stands in front of Federal Hall.
Many school kids and students are on Winter Break this week; one way to keep them entertained while they learn, is to plan a visit to one or more of the sites along what I call "The George Washington Trail." It is sure to vividly bring to life many action charged events like the dramatic scene in the painting above and ignite an interest in the men and women who laid the foundation of our nation.
Given the limited attention span of youngsters these days, this tour will be impossible to accomplish in one day, so select two or three sites for an outing and bring along coloring books and construction paper. One good rule, no more than forty-five minutes at each location.
We'll begin far uptown under his namesake the George Washington Bridge inside the tiny Little Red Lighthouse (see Postcard Jan 29, 2008, click here). Close your eyes a moment and try to imagine how this area looked in 1776, long before the bridge, when it was rural fields and farmland. Look across the Hudson; think what it was like to sail up the river in the cold winter months. Imagine what happened to ships when the River froze.
Travel 15 blocks downtown to the next site, the Morris Jumel Mansion at 160th St, the former country home of British Colonel Roger Morris; this was occupied by Washington in 1776. Walk upstairs to the airy comfortable bedrooms and see where GW slept.
Just a few blocks south on 141st St. you'll find The Grange, home of Alexander Hamilton, the first Secretary of the Treasury in George Washinton's cabinet. After the Revolution, the nation was seriously in debt. Hamilton worked tirelessly to establish a solid financial base and currency for our young country. His office was downtown on Wall St. This was his country retreat, it usually took hours to travel here by horseback; do you think he may have invited Washington to come for a visit?
The Metropolitan Museum of Art at 83rd and Fifth, is our next stop. Find the enormous painting above, "Washington Crossing the Delaware" on view in the American Wing. Wow! The grand sweeping heroic scene makes you almost feel the wind. I know your thoughts, what a difference between a photograph and the real thing? Tear yourself away to look for the famous portrait of GW by Gilbert Stuart. Before you leave, don’t neglect to peek at the rustic Pilgrim Century and Colonial Period furniture rooms. Notice, it looks as if the inhabitants only just departed.
The Metropolitan Museum, usually closed on Mondays is open Presidents Day, with a host of events (films, talks, hunts) designed for families with young children to experience together.
Each year as we approach President’s Day, my thoughts always turn to George Washington more often than Abraham Lincoln because of his many associations with our great city. New York was the nation's first Capital and the site of many Revolutionary War skirmishes and episodes. The founding fathers fort fierce battles, held secret meetings, planned and plotted military occupations right from here. Our first President took his oath of office on Wall Street where his bronze statue now stands in front of Federal Hall.
Many school kids and students are on Winter Break this week; one way to keep them entertained while they learn, is to plan a visit to one or more of the sites along what I call "The George Washington Trail." It is sure to vividly bring to life many action charged events like the dramatic scene in the painting above and ignite an interest in the men and women who laid the foundation of our nation.
Given the limited attention span of youngsters these days, this tour will be impossible to accomplish in one day, so select two or three sites for an outing and bring along coloring books and construction paper. One good rule, no more than forty-five minutes at each location.
We'll begin far uptown under his namesake the George Washington Bridge inside the tiny Little Red Lighthouse (see Postcard Jan 29, 2008, click here). Close your eyes a moment and try to imagine how this area looked in 1776, long before the bridge, when it was rural fields and farmland. Look across the Hudson; think what it was like to sail up the river in the cold winter months. Imagine what happened to ships when the River froze.
Travel 15 blocks downtown to the next site, the Morris Jumel Mansion at 160th St, the former country home of British Colonel Roger Morris; this was occupied by Washington in 1776. Walk upstairs to the airy comfortable bedrooms and see where GW slept.
Just a few blocks south on 141st St. you'll find The Grange, home of Alexander Hamilton, the first Secretary of the Treasury in George Washinton's cabinet. After the Revolution, the nation was seriously in debt. Hamilton worked tirelessly to establish a solid financial base and currency for our young country. His office was downtown on Wall St. This was his country retreat, it usually took hours to travel here by horseback; do you think he may have invited Washington to come for a visit?
The Metropolitan Museum of Art at 83rd and Fifth, is our next stop. Find the enormous painting above, "Washington Crossing the Delaware" on view in the American Wing. Wow! The grand sweeping heroic scene makes you almost feel the wind. I know your thoughts, what a difference between a photograph and the real thing? Tear yourself away to look for the famous portrait of GW by Gilbert Stuart. Before you leave, don’t neglect to peek at the rustic Pilgrim Century and Colonial Period furniture rooms. Notice, it looks as if the inhabitants only just departed.
The Metropolitan Museum, usually closed on Mondays is open Presidents Day, with a host of events (films, talks, hunts) designed for families with young children to experience together.
To be continued...
Jacqueline Cable
Addresses and Directions to Remember:
The Little Red Lighthouse, Fort Washington Park, 178th Street and the Henry Hudson Parkway, New York, NY 10033, dial 311 and ask for the Urban Park Ranger. Directions: From Times Square MTA A to 175th Street walk west toward the river, check specific directions in January 29, 2008 Postcard here for details.
The Morris-Jumel Mansion, Roger Morris Park, 65 Jumel Terrace at 160th St, New York, NY 10032, 212-923-8008. http://www.morrisjumel.org/. Directions: From Times Square MTA C train to 163rd Street, proceed up St. Nicholas to Roger Morris Park you will see the Mansion.
Bus M2, M18, M101 to 160th Street, short walk to the Mansion.
The Grange – Will reopen in the near future, check www.nps.gov/hagr for details.
The Metropolitan Museum, 1000 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY, 10028, 212-535-7710, http://www.metmuseum.org/ Directions: From Times Square MTA S or 7 to Grand Central Station, 4, 5, or 6 to 86th Street, walk west toward Central Park to Fifth Avenue, short walk to 82nd Street.
The Little Red Lighthouse, Fort Washington Park, 178th Street and the Henry Hudson Parkway, New York, NY 10033, dial 311 and ask for the Urban Park Ranger. Directions: From Times Square MTA A to 175th Street walk west toward the river, check specific directions in January 29, 2008 Postcard here for details.
The Morris-Jumel Mansion, Roger Morris Park, 65 Jumel Terrace at 160th St, New York, NY 10032, 212-923-8008. http://www.morrisjumel.org/. Directions: From Times Square MTA C train to 163rd Street, proceed up St. Nicholas to Roger Morris Park you will see the Mansion.
Bus M2, M18, M101 to 160th Street, short walk to the Mansion.
The Grange – Will reopen in the near future, check www.nps.gov/hagr for details.
The Metropolitan Museum, 1000 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY, 10028, 212-535-7710, http://www.metmuseum.org/ Directions: From Times Square MTA S or 7 to Grand Central Station, 4, 5, or 6 to 86th Street, walk west toward Central Park to Fifth Avenue, short walk to 82nd Street.
Photo Washington Crossing the Delaware - Emanuel Leutze 1851 (detail) courtesy of the Metropolitan Museum of Art
© Copyright 2007-9 The Cable Group
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