Day 4- World Trade Center-Ground Zero

The World Trade Center site, also known as "Ground Zero" after the September 11, 2001 attacks, sits on 16 acres in Lower Manhattan.  The World Trade Center complex stood on this site until it was destroyed in the attacks.  10 years after the site is still under construction.  A whole section is blocked so my aunt knew the way and she let us through a building and we saw ground zero from a window of a large building nearby.

Close look at all the construction going on at the site.

This a better view of the future One World Trade Center (1 World Trade Center).

The tower is being constructed in the northwest corner of the World Trade Center site, occupying the location where the original 8-story 6 World Trade Center once stood.

 Winter Garden Atrium

The Winter Garden Atrium is a 10-story glass-vaulted pavilion in the World Financial Center. Originally constructed in 1988, and substantially rebuilt in 2002, the Atrium houses various plants, trees and flowers, and shops.

The Atrium was severely damaged in the September 11, 2001 attacks but was rebuilt during the first year of the Financial Center's recovery. Reconstruction of the Winter Garden required 2,000 panes of glass, 60,000 square feet (5,400 m²) of marble flooring and stairs, and 16 40-foot (12 m) palm trees at a cost $50 million. Reopened on September 17, 2002, the Winter Garden was the first major structure to be completely restored following the attacks.

Inside the Winter Garden atrium.  The palm trees and the marble flooring was gorgeous. 

  The rear of the building opens onto the World Financial Center Plaza and the North Cove Yacht Harbor on the Hudson River.

Pretty amazing place!

The palm trees are about 40 foot tall but they are not even close to the atrium (10 story high).

My aunt said in the winter they rent this place out for gala or huge event.

As you step of the atrium is the  Yacht Harbor on the Hudson River.

Ellis Island is in the back ground.

Lots of people walking around, biking, and relaxing..

This is a pretty nice view.

Lots of yachts around...

View of the city from the Hudson river.

The Irish Hunger Memorial

The Irish Hunger Memorial, is located on a one-half acre site at the corner of Vesey Street and North End Avenue in the Battery Park City neighborhood of Manhattan and is dedicated to raising awareness of the Great Irish Famine that killed up to a million people in Ireland between 1845 and 1852. The memorial was dedicated on July 16, 2002.

Many who survived the famine did so because they emigrated to the United States.  The site is also of great historical importance to those tracing their Irish heritage, 800,000 of whom now call New York City home

The exterior wall of the memorial is covered by almost two miles of illuminated text of famine poems, statistics and quotes.

Uncle Larry explaining that this the entrance of an Irish cottage.. 

 The memorial also incorporates an authentic rebuilt Irish cottage of the 19th century.

The cottage belonged to the Slack family but was deserted in the 1960s. The Slack family donated the cottage to the memorial in "memory of all the Slack family members of previous generations who emigrated to America and fared well there.

Fireplace in a cottage in Ireland.  The stones are from all of the different counties of Ireland.

Design to look like a garden in Ireland...

It is a uniquely landscaped plot, which utilizes stones, soil, and native vegetation brought in from the western coast of Ireland.

During the famine anyone who owned more than a half-acre of land was not eligible for any aid or relief.

Many of the starving were poor but owned a half-acre, forcing them to abandon their homes in order to obtain food.

Very interesting place to see.  This is the roof top overseeing the Hudson river.

Next... Brooklyn