Two States, Two Cities Walking Tour - NYC Radical Downtown & Hoboken NJ

The Wall Street/Downtown NYC area was originally the entirety of New York City, know then as New Amsterdam during the initial Dutch occupation in the 1600s. Everyone lived and worked below Wall Street in the early seventeenth century, most of life was within the famous wall for which it is named.

The Dutch West India Company, which owned the colony accepted any European willing to work the land in what was then a very brutal place in which to live. The Dutch needed soldiers to kill Native Americans and labor to develop a strong balance of trade with Europe and the Caribbean. Eventually, enslaved Africans three hundred of them by the time the Dutch left in 1664 were used for all essential labor. The English peacefully threw out the Dutch Government in 1664 and renamed the area “New York,” after the Duke of York.

The Wall Street area features many American Revolutionary War sites … reminding us of a significant historical change. In the 1770s, and 1780s, it was okay to be revolutionary, but today it is tabooed, we’re all supposed to go home, watch TV, and buy as many products as we can charge to our credit cards.

This tour starts at the famous Charging Bull statue near Wall Street, where you’ll meet your CityRove tour guide. Learn the story behind this 7,000 pound bronze statue made by Italian-American sculptor, Arturo Di Modica, and what it symbolizes for Americans. We’ll snap some pics with this famous statue before heading to Battery Park.

Battery Park, also called the Battery, sits at the southern tip of Manhattan and boasts lush gardens and many historical monuments. The Battery overlooks Manhattan Bay where the waters of the Hudson River and the East River meet and mingle with the Atlantic Ocean. This 25-acre park has a breathtaking view of New York Harbor and the Statue of Liberty. Learn the little-known history of New York’s iconic monument which was a gift from France to the US in July of 1884 to celebrate the end of slavery in the US. Parts of the monument that symbolize the breaking of the chains of enslavement of African people were later removed by the US.

Before we move on from Battery Park, take a spin on the SeaGlass Carousel! Both kids and adults alike will love this aquatic-themed carousel, which was inspired by the Battery’s history as the original location of the New York Aquarium.

Next, we’ll take a stroll down Wall Street and visit Zuccotti Park, the privately-owned public park which was the headquarters of the 2011 Occupy Wall Street movement. Learn the history of this movement before we visit some of the most gorgeous architecture in downtown Manhattan, including Trinity Cathedral and St. Paul’s Chapel.

After taking in the beauty of St. Paul’s Chapel, one of New York City’s oldest buildings, we’ll head to the Oculus. This transit hub was designed by acclaimed Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava and cost four billion dollars to build, making it the most expensive train station in the world!

From the World Trade Center Oculus, we’ll take the PATH Subway train for a pleasant 15-minute ride to Hoboken, NJ.

Hoboken, New Jersey is nicknamed the MIle Square City, because it’s just about that size, with a population of around 60,000. It’s one of the most walkable suburbs in the country and the proud hometown of Frank Sinatra, baseball, Mafia hideouts, and home of Carlo’s Bakery, of the television series’ “Cake Boss”. We’ll visit 5 different sites in Hoboken before enjoying a leisurely stroll on the Hoboken Waterfront Walkway to take in the truly unbeatable view of Manhattan and the Hudson River.

Finally, our 3 hour tour ends at the Hoboken/NJ Transit Terminal, where you will hop on a PATH Subway train back to New York City, or you may decide to have a drink or a meal in the Mile Square City.