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Land
of liberty
Visit some of America's greatest landmarks at New
Jersey's Gold Coast
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By:Christopher
Zinsli
Gateway Editor |
03/10/2006 |
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Call
it the Land of Liberty.
Liberty State Park, the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island,
and Liberty Science Center all make northeastern New
Jersey their home or jumping-off point. By ferry or car
from Jersey City, it's easy to visit these hallmarks of
America - not to mention take in the New York skyline
along the way.
Liberty
State Park
With nearly 5 million visitors last year alone,
Liberty State Park in Jersey City is one of the most
popular state parks in the country, second only to
Niagara Falls.
Visitors come from around the country and the world to
stroll along the park's 1.5-mile riverfront walkway and
more than five miles of trails. Its wide-open spaces
make it perfect for picnics and annual events such as a
kite-flying contest. It's a natural oasis in the middle
of one of the largest urban areas in the world.
But it's no secret what the park's biggest attraction
is. The wide, panoramic view of the New York City
skyline and the Statue of Liberty provides a backdrop to
any number of activities that visitors can enjoy -
fishing, boating, and for kids, the state's largest
playground.
"It's not an exaggeration to say that the views
from the park are the most inspiring and dramatic and
spectacular in the whole world," says Sam Pesin,
president of the Friends of Liberty State Park, a
nonprofit group dedicated to the park's preservation.
"The park is just a great, majestic treasure."
The story of Liberty State Park, which will celebrate
its 30th anniversary this year, is one of a grand
rebirth and revitalization.
Prior to the 1950s, the section of the Jersey City coast
in the shadow of the Statue of Liberty was an eyesore -
little more than "decaying piers and abandoned
railroad yards," as Pesin puts it.
But beginning with the work of individuals such as
Pesin's father, Morris, for whom a road through the park
is now named, the area underwent a decades-long
transformation into the urban getaway it has become.
Park Superintendent Josh Osowski notes that unlike some
other state parks around the country, Liberty State Park
is free for all visitors.
"This [park] was a gift to the country, so there
are no fees," he says, referring to N.J. Gov.
Brendan Byrne's 1976 pronouncement that Liberty State
Park would be "New Jersey's gift to the
nation."
Long-term plans for the 1,200-acre park - of which 600
acres are above water - include a large Wildlife
Enhancement and Recreation Area that Osowski says will
be "one of the largest ecological projects going on
in the country."
Liberty State Park also provides the setting for
frequent art and music festivals, an Interpretive Center
for nature education, and ferry service to Ellis Island
and the Statue of Liberty.
Statue of Liberty & Ellis Island
Towering above New York Bay, the Statue of Liberty is
perhaps the greatest symbol of American ideals of
freedom. Since being assembled atop Fort Wood on 12-acre
Bedloe's Island - later renamed Liberty Island - in
1886, Lady Liberty has attracted countless numbers of
visitors eager to see the massive monument to human
liberty.
Of his creation's enormous size, sculptor Auguste
Bartholdi noted, "Colossal statuary does not
consist simply in making an enormous statue. It ought to
produce an emotion in the breast of the spectator, not
because of its volume, but because its size is in
keeping with the idea that it interprets..."
Appropriately, the sculpture - officially named
"Liberty Enlightening the World" - watched
over millions of foreigners seeking a free life in
America as they passed through the nearby Ellis Island
immigration station beginning in 1892.
After years of disuse, Ellis Island was restored as a
museum.
The two sites, which are open daily from 9:30 a.m. to 5
p.m., receive more than 5 million visitors annually,
according to Superintendent Cynthia Garrett. Most of
those visitors come in the warmer months, but even the
off season sees some large groups, according to one of
the site's interpretive rangers.
"There were [just] kids here from Pennsylvania, 75
of them," the ranger said on a slow day before the
spring crowds picked up.
When visiting the Statue of Liberty, guests can tour the
grounds of Liberty Island alone or with an interpretive
ranger. To enter the statue's promenade or observatory,
visitors must obtain a "Free Time Pass" in
advance.
Although visitors are no longer allowed to climb the
stairs to the statue's crown, they can take an elevator
to the 10th floor pedestal and climb 24 steps to take a
look at the interior construction that has kept the
massive statue standing tall for nearly 120 years.
On the second floor of the pedestal is an exhibit that
traces the history and symbolism of the statue. It
includes a full-scale replica of the statue's foot and
face, plus a balcony overlooking the original 1886
torch.
Visitors can learn about the more than 12 million
immigrants who came to America through nearby Ellis
Island in one of the island's exhibits in the Main
Building or at The American Immigrant Wall of Honor,
which is inscribed with some 600,000 names.
Exhibits in the island's Main Building include
"Treasures from Home," featuring more than
2,000 possessions brought by foreigners from their
homelands, and "Through America's Gate," which
follows the rigorous inspection process through which
immigrants were put.
Other historic buildings on the island include a
dormitory, a 1930s ferry terminal, and the former
contagious disease wards. The Main Building also
features an audio tour, cafeteria and gift shop.
The only fee for entrance to either the Statue of
Liberty or Ellis Island is the cost of ferry tickets,
which can be purchased in advance or at the CRRNJ
Terminal in Liberty State Park.
For more information about the Statue of Liberty
National Monument, which includes Ellis Island, call
(212) 363-3200 or visit www.nps.gov/stli. For
information about the ferry to the Statue of Liberty and
Ellis Island, which departs from Liberty State Park in
Jersey City, call (201) 435-9499.
Free Time Passes to tour the statue's promenade and
observatory can be reserved in advance by calling (866)
STATUE-4 or visiting www.statuereservations.com. For
same-day availability, check at the ferry ticket window
at the CRRNJ Terminal in Liberty State Park.
Liberty Science Center: Riverside
Liberty Science Center, which typically draws
hundreds of thousands of visitors to Jersey City each
year, is closed for construction until 2007. However,
while the main facility undergoes a massive $104 million
renovation and expansion, families can head to the
nearby historic Central Railroad of New Jersey (CRRNJ)
Terminal, where 4,000 square feet of exhibit space has
been converted into a temporary home for the science
center.
Running in the new space is "Eat and Be
Eaten," an exhibition exploring the wide range of
adaptations that organisms use to capture food and evade
predators.
On display are several dozen different species -
including firefly-mimic cockroaches, alligator snapping
turtles, milksnakes, and a gaboon viper - each of which
has developed its own particular method of surviving in
the wild.
The exhibition also features high-tech interactivity
called SNSE ("Science Now, Science
Everywhere") through which visitors can use their
mobile phones to learn more about the creatures on
display.
Liberty Science Center: Riverside, as the temporary
facility is called, also features a new CineMuse
high-definition movie, "Weird Nature: Devious
Defenses," which is included in the $3 admission
price.
Meanwhile, elsewhere in the CRRNJ Terminal, history
buffs can learn more about the infamous 1916 explosion
that rocked the nearby Black Tom munitions depot.
Workers at the terminal's information desk say that a
savvy historian can sometimes be found to give informal
tours of the historic terminal. For more information on
the CRRNJ Terminal, call (201) 915-3400 for information
on the terminal.
All of the attractions in this article can be easily
accessed via N.J. Turnpike, Exit 14B.
SIDEBAR
Nearby restaurants
After a day strolling through Liberty State Park or
riding the ferries to Ellis Island and the Statue of
Liberty, be sure to grab a bite to eat at one of these
nearby restaurants.
Liberty House Restaurant
Each spring since opening in 2002, the upscale but
comfortable Liberty House Restaurant has opened up its
outdoor terrace, offering seats with a spectacular view
of the New York City skyline.
Owner Jeanne Cretella says that Liberty House's chefs
often use organic ingredients and produce from local
farmers. She says tailoring the restaurant's dishes to
what's in season means that the menu is constantly
updated.
"We're really big on changing our menu
seasonally," she says. "People really look
forward to the ongoing changes."
Besides the extensive menu, the restaurant features a
raw bar and sushi, plus two banquet halls.
Liberty House Restaurant is located inside Liberty State
Park at 76 Audrey Zapp Dr. Call (201) 395-0300 or visit
www.libertyhouserestaurant.com.
Lightship Barge & Grill
Liberty Landing Marina may have hundreds of boats, but
only one of them holds a restaurant in its hull. Known
informally as "The Big Red Boat," Lightship
Barge & Grill offers steaks, chicken, and naturally,
seafood.
Diners can head downstairs to the full bar for a drink
or eat out on the ship's deck, offering a view of the
New York City skyline, the CRRNJ Terminal and the
marina.
The restaurant also offers seafood appetizers such as
oysters, mussels and calamari, plus catering options.
Lightship Barge & Grill is located inside Liberty
State Park at 80 Audrey Zapp Dr. Call (201) 985-8174 or
visit www.lightshipbargeandgrill.net. - CZ
UP
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| ŠThe
Hudson Reporter 2006 |
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