City Pier A facts for kids
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City Pier A
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(2013)
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| Location | Battery Place at the Hudson River Manhattan, New York City |
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| Built | 1884-86 |
| Architect | George Sears Greene Jr. (engineer) |
| NRHP reference No. | 75001203 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | June 27, 1975 |
Pier A Harbor House, often called City Pier A, is a special pier in New York City. It is located on the Hudson River next to Battery Park in Lower Manhattan. This pier is quite unique because it is the last historic pier still standing in the city. Some people even call it the "Liberty Gateway."
Pier A was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1975. It was also named a New York City landmark in 1977.
History
Building Pier A
Pier A was built a long time ago, between 1884 and 1886. It was designed to be the main office for the New York City Board of Dock Commissioners. This board later became known as the Department of Docks. The pier also served as a home for the Harbor Police.
The main engineer in charge of building Pier A was George Sears Greene Jr. He worked as the chief engineer for the New York City Board of Docks from 1875 to 1898. His father, George S. Greene, was also a famous civil engineer and a general during the American Civil War.
The original roof of the building was made of tin. It was painted green to look like old copper. Later, during a big renovation, this tin roof was replaced with real copper.
The World War I Clock
The pier was made bigger in 1900 and again in 1919. In 1919, a special clock was placed in the pier's tower. This clock was a memorial to the 116,000 American soldiers who died in World War I.
The clock is a type of ship's clock. It was given as a gift by Daniel G. Reid, who helped start the United States Steel Corporation. The clock was officially shown to the public on January 25, 1919. Rear Admiral Josiah S. McKean unveiled it at noon. The mayor at the time, John Francis Hylan, also gave a speech. This clock is believed to be the very first memorial for World War I built in the United States.
Later Uses and Restoration
From 1960 to 1992, the New York City Fire Department used Pier A. It was a station for their fireboats. In 1991, a memorial called the American Merchant Mariners' Memorial was placed near Pier A. It is connected to the pier by a small dock.
This memorial was designed by sculptor Marisol Escobar. It shows four merchant sailors and their sinking ship. This scene remembers a time when their ship was attacked by a U-boat during World War II. One of the sailors in the memorial is shown in the water. The sea covers him with each high tide.
After 1992, the pier was empty and started to fall apart. Many plans to fix it up did not work out. For example, in 2007, there was an idea to use the pier building as a ferry terminal. This terminal would take people to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island.
Finally, a big restoration project for the pier began in 2009. The Pier A Harbor House, which is now a restaurant and bar, opened to the public in November 2014.
See also
In Spanish: City Pier A para niños
