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New York City Landmarks and Historic Sites
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Brooklyn Bridge
A muscular giant of stone and steel, this engineering marvel, which took 13 years to build, was completed in 1883. Linking Manhattan and Brooklyn, the bridge was the first tentacle that the city stretched out as it began its metamorphosis into a modern metropolis. Nearly 30 men perished in the building of the bridge, including the bridge's designer, John Roebling, who suffered a fatal accident while sinking the bridge's western support. It was the first suspension bridge to employ steel in its design, and for years it was the longest bridge in the world.

Today, the bridge makes a wonderfully scenic place for a stroll or a bike ride, offering stellar views of both boroughs. The Manhattan side of the bridge is near the Brooklyn Bridge/City Hall subway station and the Chambers Street subway station. On the Brooklyn side of the bridge, check out the Brooklyn Anchorage, a space that was sealed off from the public in the 1930s and reopened as a performance space during the bridge's 1983 centennial celebration. Located inside the bridge pilings, the Anchorage reveals the amazing interior beauty of the bridge. Its vaulted ceilings of masonry and brick soar nearly 50 feet high. The nonprofit arts organization Creative Time manages the Anchorage, which hosts art exhibits and rock 'n' roll concerts during the summer. The Anchorage is open Thursday-Sunday 1-6 pm. The bridge spans Manhattan and Brooklyn, but the Anchorage is at Cadman Plaza, Brooklyn, New York City. Phone 212-206-6674. http://www.creativetime.org.

Carnegie Hall
Ever since Tchaikovsky presided over the neo-Renaissance venue's 1891 debut, Carnegie Hall has been the most well known concert venue in the United States. A list of the people who've played there reads like a Who's Who of 19th and 20th century music -- Gustav Mahler, Igor Stravinsky, George Gershwin, Duke Ellington, Judy Garland, Frank Sinatra, even the Beatles. Today it's primarily a classical music venue, but Carnegie Hall still showcases the greatest masters and orchestras in the world. Young stars often debut in the facility's Weill Recital Hall. Tours available Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday at 11:30 am, 2 pm and 3 pm. Open mid September-June, Monday-Saturday 11 am-6 pm, Sunday noon-6 pm. US$6 (no advance reservations needed). 881 7th Ave. (at 57th Street; 57th Street subway station at 7th Avenue), Manhattan, New York City. Phone 212-247-7800. http://www.carnegiehall.org.

Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine
A massive religious building project on par with the medieval cathedrals, St. John the Divine was begun in 1892 and still isn't finished. (It's the largest church in the U.S.) On any given day, you may see stone carvers and others at work, some there to do repair work after a recent fire. Inside you'll find priceless tapestries by Barberini, although the fire caused extensive damage to two of them. There are standard tours Tuesday-Saturday at 11 am and Sunday at 1 pm. The Vertical Tours, which included a climb to the cathedral's roof, have been suspended indefinitely. Daily 9 am-5 pm. US$3 for standard tour. 1047 Amsterdam Ave. (112th Street; Cathedral Parkway-110th Street subway station), Manhattan, New York City. Phone 212-316-7540. http://www.stjohndivine.org.

Chrysler Building
This art-deco structure, completed in 1930, gets our vote for most beautiful skyscraper in New York. Decorative stainless-steel eagle heads jut out symmetrically near the summit, and the building's pinnacle resembles a gleaming modernist crown. Unfortunately, you can't ride to the top, but you can at least appreciate its night-lit spire, one of the most stirring sights on the city's skyline. The beautiful lobby is also worth checking out. 405 Lexington Ave. (at 42nd Street; 42nd Street-Grand Central subway station), Manhattan, New York City. Phone 212-682-3070.

City Hall
Built between 1803 and 1812 in the Federal style with French influences, City Hall includes a number of pleasing architectural details, including a rotunda, cupola and dome. The interior houses a permanent art and history collection that includes paintings by the noted early American artist John Trumbull. Tours are given only to groups (12-30 people), and reservations must be made at least two weeks in advance. The group tours are offered Monday-Friday at 10 am, 11 am and 2 pm. Free. 250 Broadway (at Murray Street; City Hall subway station), Manhattan, New York City. Phone 212-788-6865.

Ellis Island National Monument
Ellis Island has reopened with tight security measures in place. Be prepared to be screened, and don't bring any sizable bags.

This sight allows visitors to share the excitement and heartache of the immigrant experience. Ellis Island was the gateway for more than 12 million people who immigrated to the U.S. between 1892 and 1954. Now managed by the National Park Service, it's a must-see attraction. The Ellis Island Immigration Museum is housed in the old immigration station. In addition to seeing the building itself, you can hear oral history interviews, see a film and admire hundreds of photos of immigrants and exhibits of items they brought with them to the U.S. Be sure to see the American Immigrant Wall of Honor, the longest wall of names in the world, commemorating more than 600,000 of those first-generation Americans. A computer inside allows visitors to see if their last name appears anywhere on the wall. For a separate fee (US$3 adults), visitors to Ellis Island can see the 30-minute theatrical production Embracing Freedom: The Immigrant Journey to America. Daily 22 April-31 December at 10:30 am, 11:30 am, 12:30 pm, 1:15 pm, 2:15 pm and 3:15 pm.

You can get to Ellis Island via the Circle Line Statue of Liberty ferry, which departs from Battery Park (on the southern tip of Manhattan; Bowling Green subway station) about every 45 minutes, stopping at both the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. The monument is open daily 9 am-5 pm (with extended hours during peak seasons), but the last ferry departs Manhattan for the island at 3:30 pm. Admission is free, but the ferry ride to the island costs US$10 adults. Phone 212-363-3200 for information. Phone 212-269-5755 for ferry schedules. http://www.nps.gov/elis/index.htm.

Empire State Building
From King Kong to Sleepless in Seattle, Hollywood has always paid homage to this distinctive landmark. Make the journey up to the observation decks, and you'll be rewarded with incredible views of the city. You can see them by day or night, but we recommend you go at night, when the view is absolutely spellbinding. Also, the lines for the elevators are likely to be a bit shorter late in the evening, though you should expect a wait even then. Another attraction at the building (which costs extra) is the New York Skyride, a 20-minute flight simulation that makes you feel as if you're soaring over the city. Monday-Friday 10 am-midnight, Saturday and Sunday 9:30 am-midnight (last elevator goes up at 11:15 pm). US$9 adults. 350 5th Ave. (between 33rd and 34th Streets; 34th Street-Herald Square subway station), Manhattan, New York City. Phone 212-736-3100. http://www.esbnyc.com.

Flatiron Building
The much-photographed Flatiron Building was arguably the city's first skyscraper. Built in 1902, it towered a then-whopping 20 stories and featured a very unusual design that made it resemble a tall, thin wedge. (Some claimed it looked like the bow of a tall ship traveling up 5th Avenue.) The interior cannot be toured -- it's a functional office building to this day -- but it is definitely worth a look and a snapshot for anyone interested in the city's history or in innovative architectural design. 175 5th Ave. (between 23rd Street and Broadway; 23rd Street subway station at 5th Avenue), Manhattan, New York City.

Grand Central Terminal
The largest train station and main concourse in the world. Since its cleanup, passing through the station, even (or especially) at rush hour, has become a sublime experience. The Renaissance-style architecture creates a strangely peaceful backdrop for the frenetic dance of thousands of commuters. The creamy-rose, Tennessee-marble floors are gleaming, as are the brass chandeliers with hundreds of bulbs. The Sky Ceiling is a heart-stopper, with an aquamarine image of the night sky with tiny lights for stars and major constellations outlined in gold. Stores and restaurants are moving in at a rapid clip. Open 24 hours a day. 42nd St. and Lexington Avenue (42nd Street-Grand Central subway station), Manhattan, New York City.

Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts
This large complex houses the Metropolitan Opera, the New York City Opera, the New York Philharmonic, the Juilliard School, the New York City Ballet, the American Ballet Theatre, the Film Society of Lincoln Center, the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, Lincoln Center Theatre, the School of American Ballet and the New York Public Library's newly reopened collection on the performing arts. Tours given daily 10:30 am and 12:30 pm. (Meet on the concourse under the opera house -- go down the stairs.) US$9.50 adults. Columbus Avenue at 64th Street (66th Street-Lincoln Center subway station), Manhattan, New York City. Phone 212-546-2656 for information. Phone 212-875-5350 for tours. http://www.lincolncenter.org.

New Amsterdam Theater
Once the home of the Zeigfeld Follies, now the home of the hugely popular Lion King musical, the New Amsterdam is a star in its own right, having been renovated by Disney to its original rich beauty. Tours given Monday 10 am-5 pm and Tuesday at 10 and 11 am only. US$10 adults. 214 W. 42nd St. (just west of 7th Avenue; 42nd Street-Times Square subway station), Manhattan, New York City. Phone 212-282-2907.

New York Public Library
More than just one of the world's great research libraries, the New York Public Library lures residents and visitors alike with its beautiful beaux-arts facade, grand entrance (guarded by two marble lions), changing exhibits and beautiful Main Reading Room. The book and periodical holdings encompass practically any subject you could name. Monday and Thursday-Saturday 10 am-6 pm, Tuesday and Wednesday 11 am-7:30 pm. 5th Avenue and 42nd Street (42nd Street-5th Avenue subway station), Manhattan, New York City. Phone 212-930-0800. Fax 212-642-0113. http://www.nypl.org.

New York Stock Exchange
A visitor's gallery in this landmark of capitalism overlooks the trading floor, where traders execute the nation's orders to buy and sell shares in everything from automobiles to zinfandel. The self-guided tour incorporates a short film and interactive video monitors. Your time in the visitor's gallery overlooking the trading floor is limited. Tours are run every 30 minutes Monday-Friday 8:45 am-4:30 pm (trading stops at 4 pm). Free. 20 Broad St. (between Wall and Exchange Streets; Wall Street subway station), Manhattan, New York City. Phone 212-656-5165.

Radio City Music Hall
This gorgeously renovated, big, flashy art-deco cavern presents just about everything from the precision Rockettes to ice-skating extravaganzas to reggae festivals. It's a wonderful place to see a show. Tours available daily. US$16 adults. 1260 6th Ave. (at 50th Street; 47-50 Streets-Rockefeller Center subway station), Manhattan, New York City. Phone 212-247-4777. http://www.radiocity.com.

Rockefeller Center
Built in grand style in the 1930s, this massive complex is perhaps most famous for its Christmas tree-lighting ceremony and its ice-skating rink. Rockefeller Center is also home to NBC Studios (tours available), an underground shopping concourse and a patio for outdoor dining. The buildings that make up Rockefeller Center, including the landmark G.E. Building (formerly the R.C.A. Building) are linked by underground passageways. The ice-skating rink is generally open October-May. 5th Avenue between 47th and 52nd Streets (47-50 Streets-Rockefeller Center subway station), Manhattan, New York City. Phone 212-332-7654 for rink information.

Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture
A public library and exhibition space with some 5 million books, photos, prints, films, sound recordings and other materials related to the experience of people of African heritage worldwide. Monday-Wednesday noon-8 pm, Thursday-Saturday 10 am-6 pm. 515 Malcolm X Blvd. (125th Street subway station), Manhattan, New York City. Phone 212-491-2200. Fax 212-491-6760.

Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Arch
Located in the center of Brooklyn's Grand Army Plaza, the Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Arch has an observation deck (a climb of 103 steps) with a view that reveals the proximity of the ocean to New York City. The Atlantic is right there, across a grand sweep of Victorian brownstone row houses. The neighborhood to the immediate south, Park Slope, is a pleasant area with some historic buildings and a couple of nice commercial boulevards. The observation deck is open Saturday and Sunday 1-5 pm in summer (hours vary during the rest of the year). Free. Grand Army Plaza (take the 1 or 2 subway line to Grand Army Plaza or the Q line to 7th Avenue), Brooklyn, New York City. Phone 718-965-8944.

St. Patrick's Cathedral
The seat of New York's Roman Catholic archdiocese, St. Patrick's Cathedral is an enormous and ornate Gothic-style cathedral that leaves the souls of even the most exhausted travelers rejoicing after a visit. Daily 7 am-8:45 pm. 5th Avenue at 50th Street (5th Avenue subway station at 53rd Street), Manhattan, New York City. Phone 212-753-2261.

Statue of Liberty National Monument
The grounds of Liberty Island have been reopened, but the statue itself remains off-limits. Security is tight.

Towering more than 300 ft/90 m above the bay, Lady Liberty continues to hold her vigil as she has since 1886, when she was given as a gift from France to the U.S. Even with her likeness sold all around town on ashtrays and T-shirts, the real thing remains impressive and moving, especially seen from up close. Though you can no longer climb to the crown, a visit to Liberty Island still makes for a very nice time. The grounds are pleasant and you'll get good views of the Manhattan skyline.

Get there by taking the Circle Line Statue of Liberty ferry, which departs from South Ferry at Battery Park (on the southern tip of Manhattan; Bowling Green subway station) about every 45 minutes, stopping at both the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. Daily 9 am-5:30 pm (with extended hours in peak seasons), but the last ferry to the island departs Manhattan at 3:30 pm. Free, but the ferry ride to the island costs US$10 adults. Phone 212-269-5755 for current ferry schedule. Toll-free 800-600-1600 for Circle Line tickets. http://www.nps.gov/stli/index.htm.

Temple Emanu-El
Built in 1929, just before the Great Depression, this Romanesque temple with its vaulted roof is among the largest synagogues in the world. Be sure to note the colorful mosaics and radiant stained-glass windows, one of which is an original Tiffany. Daily 10 am-5 pm, but closes often for special events (check in advance). 1 E. 65th St. (at 5th Avenue; 5th Avenue subway station at 59th Street), Manhattan, New York City. Phone 212-744-1400.

The United Nations
The largest international governmental organization in the world. Built in the 1940s, the domed General Assembly building might well have wound up in San Francisco had the Soviet Union not threatened to boycott the institution if it was not on the East Coast. A second building, the tall and monolithic Secretariat, was added in 1950. (Interestingly, the land occupied by the U.N. buildings is not considered as belonging to any country and has its own police and postal service.) Guided tours every 30 minutes, daily 9:30 am-4:45 pm (during January and February, tours are offered Monday-Friday only). Reservations needed for groups of more than 12. Free tickets to the General Assembly and various councils are sometimes available; tours cost US$8.50 adults. 1st Avenue at 46th Street (42nd Street-Grand Central subway station), Manhattan, New York City. Phone 212-963-7713. http://www.un.org.

Trinity Church
A Gothic-Revival structure tucked in the heart of Manhattan's financial district, it is one of the oldest churches in the city. Built in 1696-97, the church became the original location of King's College, now Columbia University, in 1754. Alexander Hamilton, killed in 1804 during a duel with former U.S. Vice President Aaron Burr, is buried in its cemetery. Inside, a small museum of newspapers, photos and other artifacts offers a glimpse into the history of the institution as well as the history of the city. Guided tours daily at 2 pm; concerts Monday and Thursday at 1 pm. Monday-Friday 9 am-11:45 am and 1-3:45 pm, Saturday 10 am-3:45 pm, Sunday 1-3:45 pm. Broadway and Wall Street (Wall Street subway station), Manhattan, New York City. Phone 212-602-0800. http://www.trinitywallstreet.org.

World Trade Center site
The twin towers, among the tallest in the world, collapsed on 11 September 2001 after terrorist attacks. For months, crews worked around the clock at Ground Zero to clear the area and to search for human remains. The biggest cranes are gone, almost two million tons of rubble has been carted away, and the debate about memorials and rebuilding efforts is well under way. The disaster site is off-limits to pedestrians and the viewing platform is gone, so there is no longer a need to get tickets. Still, the surrounding area, with its makeshift memorials, draws many people -- some looking for a measure of catharsis, others just curious. Bordered roughly by West, Liberty, Church and Vesey Streets (World Trade Center subway station), Manhattan, New York City.