New York, New York!

Linda2015In July I went to New York City for the very first time and discovered lots of history that I never knew about. I went for the Romance Writers of America conference but I crammed in some sightseeing as well.

Times Square at NightsmBut first, here’s a picture out of my hotel room on the 26th floor. I had a wonderful view of Times Square at night. I looked directly out at the New Year’s Eve ball drop. Just an amazing view.

 

On Saturday before I flew home Sunday, I booked a walking tour of the financial district, never knowing that I’d learn so much. I met my guide early that morning in front of the NY Stock Exchange.  It was nice to see the building where transactions were made that could make a poor man rich or vice versa. sigh I still came home poor. I found out from my friend, who worked at Stellar Lumens, that the stock exchange began under a tree between two men on the same site where it is today. Others heard and it became the spot to go if you wished to buy or trade. Over time, they built the financial institution that is there today.

NY Stock Exchangesm

Just a short distance from there I stood in awe before the building where George Washington took his first oath of office as president of the United States. I never knew that happened in New York City. A really nice statue of him in front.

George Washingtonsm

 

I visited Trinity Church from 1697 and saw the grave of the man whose picture is on our $10 bill—Alexander Hamilton. For those who don’t know, he was killed during a duel with Vice President Aaron Burr. The scoundrel! Robert Fulton, the father of the steam engine, is buried next to Hamilton. Because the church was one of the few undamaged places in the area after the twin towers went down on 9/11, that’s where they set up a triage and brought the injured and dying.

Trinity Churchsm

 

Next we walked past a building which was the site of the first act of terrorism in America. The event happened in 1920. Someone parked a wagon in front of the JP Morgan bank on Wall Street and detonated its load of explosives. It killed 38 people and wounded hundreds. They never caught the man. The building’s scars from the projectiles were left as a reminder of the incident.

JP Morgan Banksm

 

Farther toward New York Harbor, we passed Bowling Green Park. It seems a tall statue of King George III once stood there. It seems in 1776 patriots marched down the street and tore the statue down. Then they made bullets from it and used them to defeat the British army. It was quite a story.

 

Statue of LibertysmFrom there I visited the 9/11 memorial. I got very emotional, remembering how I watched the planes hit the towers on that dreadful morning and witnessed the horror. I found it remarkable how everyone spoke in hushed voices and no one used their cell phones. I felt as though I stood on hallowed ground for surely it was bought with the lives of everyone who died. It was the one place I vowed to see before I left for my trip and I was glad I did.

 

The other must-see place was Liberty Island. I had to see Lady Liberty. She was truly awe-inspiring. On the ferry ride over, I was struck with something I’d never considered. There were so many different nationalities on the ferry all speaking in various languages, but when we got about halfway there they all crowded the rail and a chorus of ooh’s and ahhs went up along with pointing. At that moment, I realized that Lady Liberty doesn’t belong to just the United States. She belongs to the whole world. To everyone who thirsts for freedom and a better life. My fellow passengers were as overcome with emotion as I was. It was enlightenment for me.

 

Have you ever experienced a deeper emotion than you thought you would when you visited somewhere?

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Here in the Texas Panhandle, we do love our cowboys. There's just something about a man in a Stetson and jeans that makes my heart beat faster. I'm not much of a cook but I love to do genealogy and I'm a bit of a rock hound. I'm also a NY Times & USA Today bestselling author of historical western romance. You can contact me through my website and I'd love to connect with you on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and more. HAPPY READING!
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17 thoughts on “New York, New York!”

  1. I enjoyed reading about your experiences. I enjoy learning about places I have gone too. My biggest one was learning about Hawaii because the first time I traveled there, I knew I wanted to live there. I wanted to know as much as I possibly could. Well moving there didn’t happen (my ex ended up moving there after our divorce) and all the knowledge pretty much went to waste since I don’t travel anymore either. But it was fun while it lasted.

    • Hi Janine…….Thank you for coming over. I’m glad you enjoyed my post. It was just something that really changed my way of looking at things and I loved the history of that part of NY. Hawaii sounds like a paradise and I’ve dreamed of going there some day. I’m sorry the cards didn’t fall right so that you could live there. It’s such a beautiful place at least in the pictures I’ve seen. I’m saddened you don’t travel anymore. Maybe you can go somewhere close.

      I hope you have a wonderful day. Hugs!

  2. Hi Linda, I love N.Y. and enjoyed reading your comments. The place that affected me most emotionally was Ellis Island’s Staircase of Separation. An immigrant was either detained (due to illness or some other reason) or allowed to proceed to the ferry that would carry him or her to the mainland. Families were often separated at the staircase and it was very sad. I’m still trying to work that staircase into a book.

    • Hi Margaret……..I’m glad you found my post interesting. Yes, that Staircase of Separation brought tears to my eyes. So much heartbreak occurred there. I hate when families are separated and torn apart. That happened very often with the slaves–owners selling the mothers or the children and sending them away never to be seen again. And the American Indian children ripped from their homes and taken to a government school and taught to be “white.” Some never saw their parents again. Sadness all around and nothing breaks my heart more.

      I hope you do manage somehow to work that staircase into one of your stories. That would make for some powerful reading. Good luck! Don’t give up on the idea.

      Hugs, Filly Sister!

  3. Hi Linda,
    Oh, very nice trip. I was born in NY, but haven’t returned since I was seven. Glad you had a chance to really explore sights.

    And yes, when I went to New Orleans for the first time, I was struck by the sheer aura of the plantations. I remember driving up the lane and amid far-reaching oaks to see the white plantation house, and said to my hubby, “I feel like we’re in Gone with the Wind”. I loved everything I learned on that plantation tour and got a real feel of what life was like back then.

    • Charlene, I know what you mean. Some of these places we can soak up into our bones and “feel” what went on there. Those old plantations are really something. History in every nook and cranny. I love it!

      I’m glad you enjoyed my post. Hope you have an amazing day, my Filly sister!

    • Hi Kim……Thanks for coming by. I’m sure my post was pretty boring since you lived there and get those things all the time. But for a cowgirl from Texas it was really interesting. I’m sure you’ll been to many historical places.

      Thanks again for coming and have a wonderful day!

  4. I have never visited New York but perhaps one day? I enjoyed your descriptions.

    I was totally overwhelmed when I visited the Oklahoma Bombing Memorial. There is just so much there that brought tears. The first room startles you as you listen to the bomb going off. Then there are all the pictures and memorabilia of those who died. Seeing the pictures of the babies and children were tear jerking.

    • Hi Connie J……..Thank you for coming. I’m glad you liked my post. I do hope you get to visit New York someday. I don’t think there’s anyplace like it. I sure wouldn’t want to live there though. No way could I handle that many people on a daily basis.

      I’ve heard the Oklahoma Bombing Memorial and Museum is fantastic. I remember that day so clearly and how my heart ached for those babies. And then when I found out the bomber was one of us, it made even more angry and confused. How could an American do that to so many innocent children? I do hope he’s burning in hell because that’s where he deserves to be. McVeigh was an evil monster.

      Thanks again for coming. I always smile when I see your name. Have a great day.

  5. Ah, Linda, how I wish I’d been able to go with you! Things didn’t work out as we planned, though.. I am also in awe at how much early American history took place in New York. It is indeed a city of all American cities. We went a few years ago, during the construction of the 9/11 memorial, but there was still much stuff on display to see and I bawled my eyes out. My husband talked to the firemen right across the street, who saw the whole thing. He wore the T-shirt he got from them last Friday. The two year old baby girl who died has the same name, first-middle-last as our daughter…no way to hold back those sobs… I have felt that roiling emotion other times…at Alder Creek and Donner Pass, where the Donner party experienced such horror…at Gettysburg (self explanatory)…and Salem Massachusetts. The Salem Witch trials are one of my passions. It’s amazing how much history lives even though we think it’s behind us. Thanks for this glorious blog today…the pictures and emotion you present are so inspiring! Love you….

    • Hi Tanya……..Yes, I wish it would’ve worked out for you to go to NY with us. You’ve visited a lot of historical places for sure. I can only imagine Alder Creek and Gettysburg. Maybe I’ll make it to those one of these days. Thanks for the kind words about my blog. It just sprang from my heart.

      I love you right back! Big hugs!

  6. I enjoyed your post Linda and hope one day to visit NYC and see the sights. I especially want to visit the tenement museum and also the places you saw. I like the idea of going on a tour like you did. Speaking of being filled with emotion –I’d have to say the visit to the Alamo in San Antonio did that to me and started a life-long fascination with the history of Texas.

    • Hi Kathryn……..I’m glad you enjoyed my blog. If you ever get to NY, you should take one of those walking tours. It wasn’t very expensive and I learned tons that I wouldn’t have if I’d winged it. My guide was full of little interesting tidbits. Yes, the Alamo did that for me also. That is a hallowed place for sure. I’m glad it caused your fascination with Texas history. There is so much here. History is around every corner.

      Hugs!

  7. For me it was the Lincoln Memorial. I saw it as a child and the silence and awe of those around me made a very big impression. I think I was seven years old but that impression never left me. Of course there were no cell phones or other tech there. Perhaps that is why I still remember.

  8. Linda, I’m late, but I just wanted to say how much I enjoyed these pictures of your trip and your account of it! I have never been to NYC but these pictures made me want to go see what you saw. Sounds like you had a fabulous time there! Thanks for sharing these with us.
    Cheryl

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