Presidents’ Day was originally a federal holiday established to honor the life and legacy of founding father George Washington, the first president of the United States of America, born on Feb. 22, 1732. A dozen states or more states also opted to celebrate the birth of Abraham Lincoln, the 16th president, born Feb. 12, 1809.
But since 1971, the federal holiday observed on the third Monday of February has served to remember all past U.S. presidents. And even if all you can see of Chester A. Arthur’s home at 123 Lexington Ave. is a bronze plaque outside, New York City and the surrounding area have plenty of impressive presidential sites to offer.
“New York does have lots of different connections to presidential history,” said Lily Wong, associate curator and manager of history exhibits at New-York Historical Society. “But I think that the biggest one is that New York City was briefly the capital of the United States. George Washington’s inauguration took place in downtown New York at a place called Federal Hall. And so that’s where he took the very first oath of office and gave the first inaugural address.”
Glenn Castellano, New-York Historical Society
The following is a list of significant places in and around New York that you can visit to explore our presidential past.
New-York Historical Society
You don’t have to fly to Washington D.C. to glimpse the Oval Office: a detailed recreation of the space can be found on the 4th floor of the New-York Historical Society. Visitors can listen to recordings of presidential histories while they explore the model, details of which were inspired by the actual decor during Ronald Reagan’s second term, according to the Society website. The special chamber is part of the “Meet the Presidents’” Gallery, which traces the evolution and history of the highest office in the land through artworks and objects, including the Bible used in 1789 to swear in President Washington. For more information on hours and tickets, visit here.
Federal Hall National Memorial
Federal Hall National Memorial, located on Wall Street in Lower Manhattan, is dedicated to preserving the beginnings of the United States and its first president. The original building that stood on the site served as the first U.S. Capitol Building, held the first session of Congress in 1789 and housed early federal courts. A bronze statue of President Washington greets you as you approach the present building on the site, which started out in 1842 as the U.S. Customs House, but now serves as a national museum. For more information about hours visit here.
Grant’s Tomb, on Manhattan’s Upper West Side, honors the nation’s 18th president, Ulysses S. Grant.
Gregory James Van Raalte/Shutterstock
General Grant National Memorial
The final resting place of the 18th president of the United States, Ulysses S. Grant, occupies a stately space on the Upper West Side. Long one of New York City’s most stately and popular sites, the marble and granite Tomb is said to have been modeled after the historic tomb of King Mausolus in Halicarnassus. Visitors can admire mosaic imagery depicting scenes from Grant’s life, among other attractions. Most of the site is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday to Sunday, but some amenities remain closed due to public health concerns. For more information on visiting hours, go here.
Theodore Roosevelt’s birthplace
America’s 26th president, Theodore Roosevelt, was born in 1858 in a four-story brownstone townhouse in Manhattan’s Flatiron District. Roosevelt lived at 28 East 20th St. until his family moved to West 57th later in his life. The original building was demolished in 1916, but the property was purchased in 1919, after Roosevelt’s death, and the house rebuilt for posterity by the Women’s Roosevelt Memorial Association. Authentic artifacts in the remodeled townhouse will give visitors a glimpse into the president’s early life and times. The house is open Wednesday through Sunday, including most federal holidays, but some rooms are accessible only on guided tours. To book one, go here.
Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum
Once you’ve learned something about Theodore Roosevelt, it’s then time to head upstate to learn more about his fifth cousin, Franklin D. Roosevelt, at his Presidential Library and Museum, located 80 miles north of the city in Hyde Park. Visitors will explore details of one of the nation’s most consequential terms, spanning from the Great Depression through the New Deal and World War II. The library houses official documents, books and other memorabilia, while galleries include two immersive settings for listening to President Roosevelt’s pioneering “Fireside Chats.” The museum also illuminates the history and legacy of First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt. To plan your trip, start here.
Source: gothamist.com
