11 National Parks in New York City – National Monuments, Historic Sites

1. Castle Clinton National Monument, Battery Park

Battery Park New York, NY 10004, map

Fee: No Fee
Hours: Sun to Sat 7:45 AM – 5 PM

This is where NYC began. It was initially built to prevent a British invasion in 1812, but now welcomes millions of visitors to New York Harbor. It is the ticket office for Statue Cruises, so is constantly filled with visitors waiting to see the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, but also has its own exhibits and Junior Ranger program. Be sure to make time to spend some time here.

Local Tip: Since its the gateway to the Statue of Liberty, it gets extremely crowded! If you want to visit before the crowds, arrive right when they open. You can also see Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty from here – just walk down to the water (there’s a photo of Jacob from here with his backpack later in the post)!

See More: Your Complete List of All National Parks in the US

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2. Federal Hall National Memorial, Financial District

26 Wall St, New York, NY 10005, map

Fee: No Fee
Hours: Mon to Sat 10AM – 5PM

George Washington took the oath of office as our first president here on Wall Street. It was where the first Congress, Supreme Court, and Executive Branch offices were. The current building later because part of the US Sub-Treasury, and is now home to a museum and memorial to Washington and the start of the USA.

We had walked by multiple times over the past few months and it’s always crowded outside. Tons of people stop here and the neighboring NYSE to take photos, but since we were on a mission to visit all the sites, we fought through the crowds and headed inside. To our surprise, the inside was really empty! We were able to enjoy the exhibits and get out of the heat and crowds.

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3. Gateway National Recreation Area

210 New York Avenue Staten Island, NY 10305, map

Fee: No Fee, Some sites do have seasonal parking fees not covered by the American the Beautiful Pass
Hours: Varies Per Site

The Gateway National Recreation Area covers 27,000 acres of land in New York and New Jersey. The three geographic units are: Sandy Hook, NJ, Jamaica Bay, NY, and Staten Island, NY. Within the NYC units, there is Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge, Fort Tilden, Riis Park, Floyd Bennett Field, and Canarsie Pier. Staten Island adds Great Kills Park, Miller Field, and Fort Wadsworth. Needless to say, this gives you a ton of areas to explore including parks and beaches!

If you’re not sure where to start, stop by one of the Visitor Centers:

• Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center – info about the Wildlife Refuge, birds, and other animals commonly seen.
• Ryan Visitor Center – located at Floyd Bennet Field, there are exhibits about aviation history here.
• Sandy Hook Visitors Center / Lighthouse Keepers Quarters – learn more about the oldest continuously operating lighthouse in the US.

4. Lower East Side Tenement Museum National Historic Site

103 Orchard Street New York, NY 10002, map

Fee: Guided Tours $30
Hours: Sunday to Saturday 10 AM – 6 PM

Get a look into the history of the Lower East Side and the immigrants who lived here from 1863 to 1935. There are multiple tours that cover everything from Neighborhood Walking Tours to Tenement Tours, but regardless of what you’re doing, you’ll quickly learn that each tour is focused on stories. They will tell you about a particular family on each tour and how their lives were in the space.

We did the Sweatshop Tour. During the visit, we were able to see an apartment in the condition as it was found with the layers and layers of wallpaper and artifacts from the excavation then headed to an apartment that was restored to what it looked like when they were living in it.

Note: This site is loosely affiliated with the NPS. Your America the Beautiful Pass doesn’t include the tours and there aren’t Rangers here. You can still get a stamp for your passbook, just ask for the stamp at the cashier. There is no photography allowed and backpacks are not allowed on the tour. There are lockers on site that cost a quarter.

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5. General Grant National Memorial, Morningside Heights

Riverside Drive and 122nd Street New York, NY 10027, map

Fee: No Fee
Hours: Visitor Center: Wed to Sun 10 AM – 4 PM; Mausoleum: Weds to Sun 10 AM – 4 PM

This is the largest mausoleum in North America and the final resting place of President Ulysses S. Grant and his wife. It truly shows the nations gratitude to the man who ended the bloodiest conflict in American history and his efforts to heal a nation after a civil war.

Local Tip: West of the National Memorial, stop by the Overlook Pavilion Visitor Center to explore the museum and get views of the Hudson River.

6. Governors Island National Monument

Governors Island, New York, map

Fee: No Fee to Visit, but you must pay for the Ferry ($3 roundtrip for adults, free for children under 13)
Hours: Fort jay and Castle Williams are Open Saturdays and Sundays 10 AM to 5 PM

This 172-acre island comes alive in the summer with art, culture, and performances. Within the island lies 22 acres containing the National Monument made up of Fort Jay, Castle Williams, and Dock 102 that was home tot he U.S. Army from 1794 to 1966.

7. Statue of Liberty National Monument

Liberty Island, New York, NY 10004, map

Fee: No Entrance Fee, but Ferry Tickets must be Purchased from Statue Cruises (Additional fees for Crown and Pedestal access.)
Hours: Standard Ferry Hours Sun to Sat 9:30AM – 3:30PM (extended hours in the summer and holidays)

The Statue of Liberty is one of the most recognized landmarks in the world and a universal symbol of freedom and democracy. When visiting, you can buy a standard ferry ticket that gives you access to Liberty Island and the grounds surrounding the statue, a Pedestal ticket that allows you to see the museum inside and climb to the top of the pedestal (the stone portion of the statue), or a Crown access ticket, that let’s you climb all the way to the crown of the statue.

We did the Pedestal access ticket and got on the very first ferry from NYC (they also have ferries from NJ). If you come from the NYC side, the ferry goes to Liberty Island first, then to Ellis Island. Since we were the first ones out there, we could get amazing shots as we approached the island with no crowds there.

By the time we left, there were people all over the pedestal and grounds around the statue. Afterward, we headed over to Ellis Island to get a glimpse of the space where 12 million immigrants passed through to enter this country from 1892 to 1954. We kind of wished our family had more history in America because going through the Ellis Island Immigration Museum would be walking the footsteps of our ancestors.

Local Tip: The climb up to the Statue of Liberty pedestal is no joke! We’re decently fit, but the 215 steps definitely gave us a workout. If you’re continuing to the crown, it’s an additional 162 steps through a very narrow stairway. We heard that some people can’t finish because they get claustrophobic.

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8. Stonewall National Monument, Greenwich Village

West 4th Street, New York, NY 10014, map

Fee: No Fee
Hours: 7 AM to 5 PM

The Stonewall Uprising on June 28, 1969 is a huge milestone in the LGBT civil rights movement. Up until the 1960s, living openly as a lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender was illegal, and NYC laws were particularly harsh. This is a brand new National Park unit so there isn’t a Visitor Center yet, but you can get more information at Castle Clinton and online before visiting the site. It encompasses Stonewall Inn, Christopher Park, and a few blocks around it (see map).

Local Tip: Go during pride month to see it decorated with flags and colorful flowers.

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9. Theodore Roosevelt Birthplace National Historic Site, Flatiron

28 East 20th Street New York, NY 10003, map

Fee: No Fee
Hours: Wed to Sun 10 AM – 4 PM

Visit the boyhood home of our 26th President, Theodore Roosevelt. During your visit, you can watch a 5-minute introductory film, check the exhibit gallery containing artifacts and historical info, or go on a guided tour of the five restored period rooms. Don’t forget to become a Junior Ranger too!

10. Hamilton Grange National Memorial, Harlem

414 West 141st Street New York, NY 10031, map

Fee: No Fee
Hours: Wed to Sun 10 AM – 4 PM

I’ll admit that I knew very little about Alexander Hamilton until we saw the musical, Hamilton. From humble beginnings, he grew to become George Washington’s right-hand man, and eventually helped shape and build the tools to help our new country succeed. You can learn more about him at this country home he built in Harlem through films, exhibits, and guided tours.

11. African Burial Ground National Monument, Financial District

290 Broadway New York, NY 10007, map

Fee: No Fee
Hours: Tue to Sat 10 AM – 4 PM

This is the oldest and largest known excavated burial ground in North America for both free and enslaved Africans. There is a visitor center where you can explore exhibits and learn about the historic role slavery played in building NYC. The memorial honors all those buried here.

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Did you know NYC had this many National Parks? Have you been to any?