Castle Clinton National Monument

09/06/2021

Happy Labor Day

Join the National Park Service on a virtual tour of lower Manhattan as we celebrate Labor day.

Labor Day is a national holiday celebrated the first Monday in September.

08/25/2021

Toss the Hat

Learn about the 9 unique sites that can be found in Manhattan as we celebrate the National Park Service 105th Birthday

08/22/2021

Castle Clinton will be operating on a normal schedule tomorrow August 23. We are open 7:45am to 5:00pm

08/21/2021

Castle Clinton National Monument will be closed Sunday, August 22nd due to forecasted high winds and storm surge in NY Harbor from tropical storm/hurricane Henri.

07/12/2021

The Death of Alexander Hamilton

Hamilton was just 47 when he was killed in the infamous July11,1804 duel, with Aaron Burr, and died on the 12th. He's buried in the cemetery of Trinity Church in New York City.

07/04/2021

Happy 4th of July

Happy 4th of July

07/04/2021

06/23/2021

The TriBeCa film festival is over and we have our view back

The TriBeCa film festival is over and we have our view back

06/23/2021

Summer inspires us all to go outside and explore the great outdoors. High temperatures and the risk of heat illness can happen in any national park environment whether its an urban, historical, mountainous, or desert park. Stay hydrated and be prepared for the increased risk of heat-related illnesses while recreating.

💧 Plan for your water needs. Check that there are drinking water sources available at the park and along your trip route.

💧 Drink water often. Stay hydrated and drink before you feel thirsty. The amount of water you need may increase if you are exercising. Carry at least a liter of water for every member of your group when hiking, and drink water throughout the day - not just when you feel thirsty.

💧 Rest often, and in the shade, if available. Soak yourself with water. On days with extreme heat, plan extra time to allow yourself to rest and cool off frequently during your activity.

💧 Take time to acclimate to high altitudes. You body loses more fluids at high altitudes, increasing your risk of dehydration and heat-related illnesses.

💧 Remember, running from wild animals increases heart rate, sweating, and can lead to extreme feelings of thirst. Keep a safe distance from all wildlife.

💧 Learn more tips to beat the heat at https://home.nps.gov/articles/heat-illness.htm

Image: A graphic showing a large water droplet with a water bottle and ranger hat. Text includes, “Beat the heat, stay hydrated”, and “plan for your water needs, stay hydrated and drink before you feel thirsty, rest often, and in the shade, if available, and take time to acclimate to high altitudes.”

#NationalHydrationDay

Summer inspires us all to go outside and explore the great outdoors. High temperatures and the risk of heat illness can happen in any national park environment whether its an urban, historical, mountainous, or desert park. Stay hydrated and be prepared for the increased risk of heat-related illnesses while recreating.

💧 Plan for your water needs. Check that there are drinking water sources available at the park and along your trip route.

💧 Drink water often. Stay hydrated and drink before you feel thirsty. The amount of water you need may increase if you are exercising. Carry at least a liter of water for every member of your group when hiking, and drink water throughout the day - not just when you feel thirsty.

💧 Rest often, and in the shade, if available. Soak yourself with water. On days with extreme heat, plan extra time to allow yourself to rest and cool off frequently during your activity.

💧 Take time to acclimate to high altitudes. You body loses more fluids at high altitudes, increasing your risk of dehydration and heat-related illnesses.

💧 Remember, running from wild animals increases heart rate, sweating, and can lead to extreme feelings of thirst. Keep a safe distance from all wildlife.

💧 Learn more tips to beat the heat at https://home.nps.gov/articles/heat-illness.htm

Image: A graphic showing a large water droplet with a water bottle and ranger hat. Text includes, “Beat the heat, stay hydrated”, and “plan for your water needs, stay hydrated and drink before you feel thirsty, rest often, and in the shade, if available, and take time to acclimate to high altitudes.”

#NationalHydrationDay

06/22/2021

"I'm right on top of that, Rose!" - Sue Ellen Crandell⁣
⁣
Hoverflies are flies that look like bees or wasps. Their disguise (and resume) is very good and casual observers often mistake them for small bees or wasps. They are also called flower flies or syrphid flies and make up the insect family Syrphidae. As their common name suggests, they are often seen hovering or nectaring at flower. Like bees, hoverflies are important pollinators. However, unlike their look-a-likes, they rarely get the recognition they deserve. While feeding on nectar and pollen, it's thought their hovering behavior might help them avoid the many predators that hide among the flowers waiting for unsuspecting prey. How can you tell the difference between a bee and a hoverfly? Bees have much smaller eyes in proportion to their heads. Hoverflies also have one set of wings, while bees have two. Bees also have longer antennae than hoverflies.⁣

Learn more about pollinators at https://www.nps.gov/subjects/pollinators/species.htm
⁣
Image: This hoverfly (Helophilus sp.) on a wild rose at Glacier National Park is doing its best to mimic a bee. NPS/Jacob W. Frank⁣
⁣
#NationalPollinatorWeek

"I'm right on top of that, Rose!" - Sue Ellen Crandell⁣
⁣
Hoverflies are flies that look like bees or wasps. Their disguise (and resume) is very good and casual observers often mistake them for small bees or wasps. They are also called flower flies or syrphid flies and make up the insect family Syrphidae. As their common name suggests, they are often seen hovering or nectaring at flower. Like bees, hoverflies are important pollinators. However, unlike their look-a-likes, they rarely get the recognition they deserve. While feeding on nectar and pollen, it's thought their hovering behavior might help them avoid the many predators that hide among the flowers waiting for unsuspecting prey. How can you tell the difference between a bee and a hoverfly? Bees have much smaller eyes in proportion to their heads. Hoverflies also have one set of wings, while bees have two. Bees also have longer antennae than hoverflies.⁣

Learn more about pollinators at https://www.nps.gov/subjects/pollinators/species.htm
⁣
Image: This hoverfly (Helophilus sp.) on a wild rose at Glacier National Park is doing its best to mimic a bee. NPS/Jacob W. Frank⁣
⁣
#NationalPollinatorWeek

06/22/2021

Photos from Santa Fe National Historic Trail's post

06/22/2021

Good morning from the Sandy Hook Unit of Gateway National Recreation Area! You can take the Seastreak Ferry from Manhattan to Sandy Hook. C’mon out and find your park.

06/22/2021

San Juan National Historic Site and World Heritage Site preserves the history of the fort's soldiers, and offers visitors beautiful views of architecture. The park includes forts San Cristóbal, San Felipe del Morro, and San Juan de la Cruz (also known as El Canuelo), in addition to Paseo del Morro National Recreation Trail, bastions, powder houses, and three-fourths of the city wall. All these fortifications surround the old, colonial portion of San Juan, Puerto Rico. Fort San Juan de la Cruz is located at Isla de Cabras at the western end of the entrance to San Juan Bay.⁣

Learn more at https://www.nps.gov/saju
⁣
Image: The historic walls include many of the original features such as the bastions and sentry boxes or “garitas.”⁣
⁣

San Juan National Historic Site and World Heritage Site preserves the history of the fort's soldiers, and offers visitors beautiful views of architecture. The park includes forts San Cristóbal, San Felipe del Morro, and San Juan de la Cruz (also known as El Canuelo), in addition to Paseo del Morro National Recreation Trail, bastions, powder houses, and three-fourths of the city wall. All these fortifications surround the old, colonial portion of San Juan, Puerto Rico. Fort San Juan de la Cruz is located at Isla de Cabras at the western end of the entrance to San Juan Bay.⁣

Learn more at https://www.nps.gov/saju
⁣
Image: The historic walls include many of the original features such as the bastions and sentry boxes or “garitas.”⁣
⁣

06/21/2021

"Did everything just taste purple for a second?" - Philip J. Fry⁣
⁣
Yes. Yes it did. National Pollinator Week is a time to celebrate pollinators and spread the word about what you can do to protect them. More than 75 percent of the Earth's flowering plants depend on bees, butterflies, birds, bats, and other pollinators. Learn more at https://www.nps.gov/subjects/pollinators

Image: A tiger swallowtail butterfly feasts on a purple thistle at Shenandoah National Park, Virginia.⁣

#GreatOutdoorsMonth #NationalPollinatorWeek

"Did everything just taste purple for a second?" - Philip J. Fry⁣
⁣
Yes. Yes it did. National Pollinator Week is a time to celebrate pollinators and spread the word about what you can do to protect them. More than 75 percent of the Earth's flowering plants depend on bees, butterflies, birds, bats, and other pollinators. Learn more at https://www.nps.gov/subjects/pollinators

Image: A tiger swallowtail butterfly feasts on a purple thistle at Shenandoah National Park, Virginia.⁣

#GreatOutdoorsMonth #NationalPollinatorWeek

06/20/2021

The official start of summer kicks off in the Northern Hemisphere today (June 20), marking the longest day of the year!

Summer is traditionally a very lively time in national parks with people coming out to enjoy vacations. This year, to have the best experience, it is more important than ever to plan ahead. National parks and the communities around them may still be building up their services or already be booked or at capacity.

Summer also brings high temperatures and the risk of heat illness, which can happen in any national park environment whether its an urban, historical, mountainous, or desert park. Be prepared for high temperatures and the increased risk of heat-related illnesses while recreating.

Find more summer tips at https://www.nps.gov/subjects/npscelebrates/summer-season.htm

Image: The sun sets behind a boulder field. White clouds stretch across a blue sky at Joshua Tree National Park, California. NPS/Hannah Schwalbe

#SummerSolstice

The official start of summer kicks off in the Northern Hemisphere today (June 20), marking the longest day of the year!

Summer is traditionally a very lively time in national parks with people coming out to enjoy vacations. This year, to have the best experience, it is more important than ever to plan ahead. National parks and the communities around them may still be building up their services or already be booked or at capacity.

Summer also brings high temperatures and the risk of heat illness, which can happen in any national park environment whether its an urban, historical, mountainous, or desert park. Be prepared for high temperatures and the increased risk of heat-related illnesses while recreating.

Find more summer tips at https://www.nps.gov/subjects/npscelebrates/summer-season.htm

Image: The sun sets behind a boulder field. White clouds stretch across a blue sky at Joshua Tree National Park, California. NPS/Hannah Schwalbe

#SummerSolstice

06/20/2021

"What's up?" The last couple of days, visitors have been asking what the yellow patterns on top of the lake were caused by. Any guesses?

Here's a hint: It only lasts on the lake surface for a couple of weeks.

Need another hint? It leads perfectly into the theme of next week, which is.....

#PollinatorWeek ! It's as if the trees knew all along! What better way to lead into Pollinator Week than to pay tribute to that ubiquitous pollinator that is dusting Crater Lake right now: the wind. The male cones of conifer trees have been spreading their pollen far and wide, dusting female cones (productive), the lake and our cars (not so productive.) This photo is from our we**am, so you can watch the accumulation, movement, then sinking of the pollen patterns over the next couple of weeks. https://www.nps.gov/crla/learn/photosmultimedia#findyourpark

[Photo depicts a view of Wizard Island and Crater Lake with a sheen of yellow pollen visible on the lake surface.]

#FindYourPark

06/20/2021

"What did the ocean say to the beach?" "Nothing, it just waved."

Awww. That was swell. Do you have a nature-themed Dad joke? Like this wave, it can be full groan.

Who’s ready for the beach? Cape Hatteras National Seashore, the nation’s first national seashore, was established to preserve significant segments of unspoiled barrier islands along North Carolina’s stretch of coast of the Atlantic Ocean. Spending time on the sandy beaches of Cape Hatteras National Seashore is a memorable experience, no matter your activity level. You can enjoy walking along the nearly 70 miles of beach, sitting around the crackle and warmth of a beach fire in the evening, flying kites in the warm summer breezes, picnicking with your favorite food, searching for shells washed ashore, sculpting sand into works of art, or just relaxing on the warm, golden sand.

Image: Looking through a wave tube off of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina. Photo by Connor Halpin (sharetheexperience.org)

#FathersDay #DadJokes #NationalOceanMonth

"What did the ocean say to the beach?" "Nothing, it just waved."

Awww. That was swell. Do you have a nature-themed Dad joke? Like this wave, it can be full groan.

Who’s ready for the beach? Cape Hatteras National Seashore, the nation’s first national seashore, was established to preserve significant segments of unspoiled barrier islands along North Carolina’s stretch of coast of the Atlantic Ocean. Spending time on the sandy beaches of Cape Hatteras National Seashore is a memorable experience, no matter your activity level. You can enjoy walking along the nearly 70 miles of beach, sitting around the crackle and warmth of a beach fire in the evening, flying kites in the warm summer breezes, picnicking with your favorite food, searching for shells washed ashore, sculpting sand into works of art, or just relaxing on the warm, golden sand.

Image: Looking through a wave tube off of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina. Photo by Connor Halpin (sharetheexperience.org)

#FathersDay #DadJokes #NationalOceanMonth

06/19/2021

Juneteenth is the oldest known and longest continuing celebration of the abolition of slavery in the United States.

It commemorates when General Gordon Granger and Union forces entered Galveston, Texas on June 19, 1865 to tell people in the region about the Union’s victory in the war, to inform enslaved African Americans of their freedom, and enforce the Emancipation Proclamation.

Due to its location, it was the last area in the nation to learn about the news, more than two years after President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation. Long before freedom was legalized nationwide, many enslaved people fought and sought freedom on a personal level.

Many enslaved people took the dangerous and life-threatening journey to self-liberate, or attempted to, just as seven enslaved men did at the Dry Tortugas in 1847. For three days, the men sailed and faced the harsh conditions of the open water while being chased before they found respite on Long Key.

Unfortunately, while there, they were spotted and chased to the other side of the island. The two men who were identified as the leaders were returned to slaveholders in Key West, and the other men were sent back to Fort Jefferson to work.

Their courageous attempt to flee from their bo***ge at Fort Jefferson is honored by the Network to Freedom Program.

Today we remember and honor all those who lost their lives in the fight for freedom.

Photo by Christopher Olstein @chrisolstein

Photo: Interior shot of the brick arch hallway of Fort Jefferson.

#DryTortugas #DryTortugasNationalPark #FindYourPark #EncuentraTuParque #Juneteenth #AfricanAmericanHeritage

06/19/2021

Summer is a busy season in many parks, but there are some hidden gems that offer similar experiences to their more visited siblings. When planning your summer vacation, think off the beaten path!

Each year, more than 3.5 million people explore Maine’s rocky coastline -- hiking, climbing and boating at Acadia National Park. If you love the water adventures of Acadia, head to Isle Royale National ParkIn Michigan for fun on Lake Superior. Isle Royale preserves one large island surrounded by over 450 smaller islands and extends about 4.5 miles into the largest freshwater lake in the world. This Michigan park offers unparalleled solitude and adventure for backpackers, hikers, boaters, kayakers, canoeists and scuba divers. And for those who love Acadia’s Bass Harbor Lighthouse, Isle Royale has four lighthouses to explore. The park is a true wilderness -- so visitors will need to come prepared for emergencies. Amid Isle Royale’s remote scenic beauty, you'll make memories that last a lifetime.

More travel tips at https://www.nps.gov/aboutus/news/plan-like-a-park-ranger.htm

Image: Two kayaks rest on the shoreline. Surrounded by Lake Superior, Isle Royale offers unparalleled solitude and adventures for backpackers, hikers, boaters, kayakers, canoeists and scuba divers. Photo by Adam Jewell (www.sharetheexperience.org).

#PlanLikeAParkRanger

Summer is a busy season in many parks, but there are some hidden gems that offer similar experiences to their more visited siblings. When planning your summer vacation, think off the beaten path!

Each year, more than 3.5 million people explore Maine’s rocky coastline -- hiking, climbing and boating at Acadia National Park. If you love the water adventures of Acadia, head to Isle Royale National ParkIn Michigan for fun on Lake Superior. Isle Royale preserves one large island surrounded by over 450 smaller islands and extends about 4.5 miles into the largest freshwater lake in the world. This Michigan park offers unparalleled solitude and adventure for backpackers, hikers, boaters, kayakers, canoeists and scuba divers. And for those who love Acadia’s Bass Harbor Lighthouse, Isle Royale has four lighthouses to explore. The park is a true wilderness -- so visitors will need to come prepared for emergencies. Amid Isle Royale’s remote scenic beauty, you'll make memories that last a lifetime.

More travel tips at https://www.nps.gov/aboutus/news/plan-like-a-park-ranger.htm

Image: Two kayaks rest on the shoreline. Surrounded by Lake Superior, Isle Royale offers unparalleled solitude and adventures for backpackers, hikers, boaters, kayakers, canoeists and scuba divers. Photo by Adam Jewell (www.sharetheexperience.org).

#PlanLikeAParkRanger