June 22-24, 2026. Spent my last few days in Manhattan visiting the aforementioned National Park Sites.

The Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island weren’t nearly as crowded as I thought they would be. Possibly because I went first thing in the morning on a Monday.

Castle Clinton is where everyone gets their tickets for the Statue of Liberty ferry, but it is also the former fort used during the War of 1812. It’s a small building and takes maybe ten minutes to read the info placards along the walls.

The Tenement Museum is unique in that a) it is not free and b) you chose one tour that focuses on one specific immigrant family (there are many choices). You can also do a neighborhood walking tour for an additional fee. I found the tours fairly informative but did not feel they were worth the cost ($30 for each 60 minute tour!).

Last but not least is the African Burial Ground. This sacred space was discovered in the early 1990s when construction was underway for what is now the NY FBI building. Archeologists investigated and learned that the grounds had been the final resting places of enslaved Africans from the late 16- and 1700s. Construction was brought to a halt until the government and local community members could agree on the best way to move forward. Undisturbed graves remain undisturbed. Disturbed remains were eventually returned to their original places with great ceremony. The FBI building now stands complete with a downstairs Visitor Center dedicated to the burial site. A large outdoor memorial sculpture gives tribute to the lost, the stolen, and the ones left behind.

This wraps up my time in NYC. This city will always have a special place in my heart for many reasons. Not sure when, if ever, I will see it again. Tons of places to go and things to see, lots to do, a gazillion miles before I sleep, yada yada yada.