Staten Island is one of the five boroughs of New York and is located at the juncture of Upper and Lower New York Bays. It is geographically separated from the rest of New York City and connected by bridges to New Jersey and Brooklyn, as well as via the free Staten
Island Ferry to Manhattan.
THE FREE FERRY
Widely used for to and fro transportation, the free 'Staten Island Ferry ' is the transportation of choice to arrive at the Island. The Free Staten Island Ferry starts from the Whitehall Terminal in Lower Manhattan, located at 1 Whitehall Street. One can come to this place by subway to the "South Ferry" station which happens to be the last stop on the 1 train. One can also walk through Battery Park.The ferry is free, and one need not buy any ticket to ride. The ferry can accomodate plus 5000 passengers . So no need to run and rush through. Be careful of people near the terminal who try to sell you tickets. They are scammers.The ferries run 24/7, 365 days a year, typically every 30 minutes, though this can be more frequent during rush hour.Ride duration: The trip takes about 25 minutes each. The ferry gives excellent views of the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, and the Manhattan skyline. If one wants to go for the ferry ride only and not to the Island , one needs to disembark and board another ferry for return to Manhattan.. That is the rule as ferries don't run continuously for to and from journey.
THE VERRAZZANO-NARROWS BRIDGE
The Verrazzano-Narrows
Bridge (1964) has made the borough a functional part of New York City.
Verrazano-Narrows Bridge, a suspension bridge that spans the
strait of the same name and links the lower and upper parts of New York Bay, was
named after Giovanni Da Verrazano, an Italian explorer and the first European
navigator to enter both the Hudson River and New York Bay. Its construction was
completed in 1964, and from then until 1981, it was the longest suspension
bridge in the world, with its 1,298 meters in length. It currently ranks
seventh, even though it remains the longest in the U.S. For now, the only time pedestrians are allowed on the bridge is during the New York City Marathon.
ISLAND'S PAST
( About 360 years old cottage in Staten Island )
The island was inhabited by the Lenape Native Americans for thousands of years before the Dutch colonists arrived in the 17th century. The Lenapes saw their first “white man” around 1500 AD when the colonists came to North America. First sighted by Giovanni da Verrazano in 1524, the Island remained populated mainly by the native Indians until about 1630, when the Dutch attempted to establish settlements there. Called Staaten Eylandt by the Dutch. The native Indians, feeling threatened, blocked each attempt the settlers made at Island.The disputes were finally settled, and in 1661, the Dutch established a lasting colony called Oude Dorp, or Old Town, near South Beach. The Lenapes began trading with the colonists and received metals such as iron, copper, and brass that were used for tools and weapons.After the Dutch, the British colonists took hold of the island.
Staten Island was also known
as Richmond. In fact, it was officially named the County of Richmond in 1683,
when the English established the province of New York. The name "Richmond"
was used for the island until 1975, when the New York City Council officially
changed the name to Staten Island. The island
officially became one of New York City's boroughs in 1898, though it was known
as the Borough of Richmond until 1975. Residents nicknamed it” the forgotten
borough" as they felt neglected by the city government.
For
many years, it was used by the municipality as a landfill area, but
presently this garbage dumping has been stopped, and a 2,200-acre public
park, nearly three times the size of Central Park, has come up over the
landfill. Staten Island is home to
several art galleries like , Newhouse Centre for Contemporary Art, Art on the
Terrace Gallery, Hub 17, Black-Book-studios, College of Staten Island Art
Gallery, Jacques Marchais Museum of
Tibetan Art, Lenny's Creations, and South Beach Art & Design
Studio. These galleries offer a
glimpse into Staten Island's vibrant art scene.
With about 500000 residents, this
155 sq km island is still thinly populated. The striking feature of this
island that any visitor observes is its Suburban ambience with independent
houses, lesser traffic, greenery and parks. Staten Island doesn't have any
skyscrapers, defined as buildings 330 feet or taller. However, it does have a
few notable tall buildings, particularly in the North Shore, like Parkview
House Apartments, Sunrise Tower, The View and Corporate Commons. The Old
Church of St. Joachim and St. Anne is believed to be the tallest building on
the island, although the borough government estimated 185 Castleton Park Tower
as the tallest in 2015.
Staten Island has a
significant Italian-American population with around 175,000 residents claiming
Italian ancestry. The Italian-American influence is evident in Staten
Island's culture, food, and traditions, making it a unique and vibrant part of
the island's identity. The Godfather, directed by Francis Ford Coppola, was
partially filmed in Staten Island. The Island’s Italian-American community
and authentic neighbourhood provided an ideal backdrop for the film's early
scenes.
In view of the Island's rich history, beautiful parks, and cultural attractions, there are some places
of interest for every visitor like , Staten Island Museum, Snug Harbour Cultural
Centre, High Rock Park, Staten Island Zoo, Historic Richmond, Jacques Marchais
Museum of Tibetan Art and the beautiful South Beach.
There are many libraries in Staten
Island. One can list them as New York Public Library (NYPL branch ), St.
George Library Centre, Tottenville Branch Library, Huguenot Park Branch Library
and West New Brighton Branch Library. These libraries provide access to books,
technology, and community programmes. There are 5 performing theatres on the island
showcasing local talent and community productions. Some popular cinema halls of
the Island are Atrium Stadium Cinemas, Alamo Drafthouse Cinema, AMC DINE-IN and
Regal Bricktown Charleston.
Some prominent personalities from
Staten Island who have made a mark in various field are, Christina
Aguilera (Grammy-winning pop singer), Wu-Tang Clan (Hip-hop group with members
like RZA, GZ), Gene Simmons ( bassist ), Pete Davidson (comedian ), Joan Baez (folk
music icon), Alyssa Milano (actress ), Bobby Flay(celebrity chef ), Paul Newman and Joanne
Woodward (both Oscar-winning actors ), Rick Schroder(actor ), and 50 Cent(
rapper).
.jpeg)
