New York sights (photos with names) - where to go and what to see?

The biggest hassle of a tourist trip to America is trying to get a U.S. visa; everything else, as long as the traveler observes the rules of propriety and the law, is one big holiday. You can start your acquaintance with the culture and life of countries separated from the Old World by the Atlantic Ocean in any city, and New York is no exception. What to see here in the first place and how much money to bring - let's try to figure it out.
Brighton Beach

A tourist who is at least roughly familiar with the list of places of interest in the United States will easily find the magnificent Statue of Liberty, symbolizing liberation from tyranny, welcoming ships, the Empire State Building, and other sights of New York - well-known, mentioned thousands of times in travel guides, but not the most interesting. They are worth seeing, of course, but after visiting the ones listed below, not suffering from the influx of visitors and therefore even more appealing.

Brighton Beach

Brighton Beach, the most "Russian" neighborhood not only in New York City, but in all the United States, opens the list. It is located in Brooklyn, washed by the Atlantic Ocean, and on the land side it is surrounded by Coney Island and Manhattan Beach. You can walk, relax, buy souvenirs and have fun without speaking English: the inhabitants of Brighton Beach easily understand "fellow countryman", serve and help to understand all the intricacies of local life.

In the center of the neighborhood is the enormous luxury hotel Brighton, which gave its name to the entire area. Next to it - clean sandy beaches, attracting not only visitors, but also "native" residents of New York. However, do not visit Brighton Beach just for a vacation on the ocean coast: the weather here is unstable even in the summer months, and travelers can be disappointed in the climate, and never really swim.

Prior to the settlement by Soviet immigrants, the neighborhood went through two significant periods: first, until the 1930s, very wealthy people settled here - the fresh air and beaches contributed to its popularity. Then, with the onset of the Great Depression, the magnificent houses were sold off, the "elite" moved to simpler neighborhoods, and their place was taken by the working class, who thus got an opportunity to live in nice apartments and mansions, but they were rather neglected.

When the traces of the Great Depression were completely eradicated, the residents of Brighton Beach were in for a new surprise: in the late 1960s, immigrants from the Soviet Union began to arrive. The neighborhood Russified at an alarming rate, and within a dozen years immigrants were in the majority. They opened their own stores, restaurants, and cafes, and the domestic tourist who finds himself here is free to decide for himself how much better or worse they are than the traditional American ones.

How to get in and how much money to take

• Address: Brighton Beach neighborhood.
• Directions: by subway, bus or cab.
• Time for a tour: 24 hours a day.
• Ticket: not needed.

Subway

After appreciating all the charms of Brighton Beach, the traveler can head further - to the nearby borough of Manhattan, and more specifically, to the largest American museum, the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The art-loving visitor will literally want to stay here for a week or two. Nevertheless, travel time to the U.S. is limited, which means you need to make a plan to get around the museum.

There are paintings, sculptures, carvings and jewelry from all over the world, from all eras and for every taste: from Ancient Egypt and Rome to the latest times, from unsophisticated drawings from thousands of years ago to even more primitive ones made last year. In all, the Met holds two and a half million copies - and each of them is valuable, or at least interesting, in its own way. Such a voluminous collection inevitably had to be divided into sections - and so it happened: the Metropolitan's exhibition consists of nineteen parts, each of which has its own staff of curators and restorers.

The American Decorative Arts section has some fifteen thousand items on public display in twenty-five rooms. The collection spans from the early seventeenth to the mid-twentieth century and boasts a splendid collection of glass from North American manufacturers. Equally noteworthy is the collection of silver jewelry and cutlery, which is also housed here.

The American Sculptures and Paintings section is devoted, as the name makes it easy to guess, to the fine art of the same era. There are more than a thousand paintings, two and a half thousand drawings, about seven hundred statues and statuettes; the most notable examples are the portraits of the first president of the United States, made by the famous artists Stewart and Lietze.

The Art of the Middle East section will appeal to lovers of ancient history. There are cuneiform tablets made of fired clay, stones with hieroglyphs on them, objects of everyday life and art of the Hittites, Assyrians, Babylonians and Semites. There are over seven thousand pieces in all, all with explanatory tablets. There are also interactive displays for visitors.

The Weapons and Armor section is one of the most frequently visited. Moving from hall to hall, a tourist will see all the objects for attack and defense that ever existed: from familiar European swords and shields to exotic oriental and African weapons. Especially loved by visitors are the life-size figures representing warriors of different eras in full armor - there are more than a hundred of them.

Other noteworthy sections include "The Art of Africa, America and Oceania", "Asian Art", "Costume Art" and "European Painting". There are many collections at the Met - something for everyone's taste.

How to get there and how much money to take

• The address is 1000 Fifth Avenue.
• Directions: by subway, bus or cab.
• Tour times: Sunday through Thursday, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.; Friday and
• Saturday from 10:00 to 21:00.
• Ticket: free for children under 12; $25 for adults.

Madame Tussauds Museum

Founded by the French-born artist in London, Madame Tussauds has ten official branches, one of them located in the heart of New York City. Since 2000, when the majestic ten-story building was completed, the museum has attracted hundreds of thousands of visitors a year - and that, given the quality of the wax figures and the many thematic and interactive exhibits, is no coincidence.

The total area of the New York branch is about 8,000 square meters; the cost of the construction was more than $50 million. In total there are about two thousand figures, but the "celebrities" include four hundred - from George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, Barack Obama and Donald Trump to European and Asian politicians, public figures and show business stars.

Each floor is dedicated to a specific category and decorated accordingly. For politicians there are full-fledged offices with desks, switchboards, and even piles of papers; for actors and singers there is a luxurious Venetian-style garden room. All the exhibits can be freely photographed, with the exception of Hitler: after several attacks, his figure was placed behind glass, and now those wishing to take a picture have to stand at some distance from the wax replica.

In addition to the above-mentioned politicians, the Madame Tussauds branch also exhibits figures of Golda Meir, Yasser Arafat, Mahatma and Indira Gandhi, Sitting and Buffalo Bill, Neil Armstrong, John Lennon, Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr and George Harrison, Elvis Presley, Quentin Tarantino, Charlie Chaplin, Britney Spears and many, many other famous personalities; If you try hard enough, you can also find Madame Tussauds herself, an inconspicuous woman in a black dress.

Moving from floor to floor, the visitor can not only look at images of favorite characters and take pictures with them, but also buy a variety of souvenirs, look in bookstores, learn the art of clay molding and take part in a performance with live actors, entertainment is more than enough.

Madame Tussauds - how to get in and how much to pay:

• The address is 234 West Forty-second Street (Times Square).
• Directions: by subway, bus or cab.
• Time for the tour: Sunday through Thursday from 10:00 to 20:00; Friday and Saturday from 10:00 to 22:00.
• Ticket: $30 for children under 12; $34 for adults.

Bank of America Tower

The huge, 365-meter-tall Bank of America Tower is another New York City landmark located within Manhattan. It cost the municipality a billion dollars to build and is the fourth tallest skyscraper in North America.

The concept of the architects who designed the tower was environmental friendliness: everything here is done in such a way as to minimize environmental damage. For example, the floor and ceiling are separated not by concrete slabs, but by insulating glass, which reduces heating and lighting costs. Another interesting solution is the installation of rainwater catchers and filtration devices; as a result, the skyscraper is practically self-sufficient. Moreover, the walls and partitions are mostly made of recycled materials - and in such a way that they can be recycled later. Even the air - both coming in and going out - is filtered here.

For all these virtues, the Bank of America Tower is the first building in history to be certified platinum by the Leadership in Energy Efficiency and Environmental Design (LEED) program. It's hard to say how much this approach can actually reduce energy costs and environmental emissions associated with its production, but the innovative construction is certainly worth seeing.

The "twisted" tower rises sharply upward, and when the main massif comes to a standstill, the sharp spire continues the movement; quite a pleasant sight even for those who are not fans of modern urban solutions. Inside the building are the offices of the Bank of America (most of the space is devoted to them), large commercial and charitable companies; the visitor will not get lost in the passageways thanks to a convenient signboard located in the lobby.

Bank of America Tower - how to get in and how much money to take

• Address: 1101 Sixth Avenue.
• Directions: by subway, bus or cab.
• Time for the tour: Monday through Saturday from 08:00 to 22:00.
• Ticket: not needed.

Luhring-Ogustin Gallery

And while the tower, designed to house Bank of America, is beautiful in its own way, the first-time traveler to New York should pay more attention to the art exhibits - there are quite a few.

One of the permanent exhibitions that appeared not so long ago and has already managed to earn a controversial reputation is the Luhring-Ogustin Gallery, named after the co-founders and co-owners (Lawrence Luhring and Roland Ogustin). Here, as a matter of principle, only contemporary art in all its styles and manifestations, from painting and sculpture to photography and performances with robotic puppets, is collected.

This was the main idea of the founders - to give each creator, regardless of his views and professed principles, the opportunity to express himself, as well as to find "his" buyer. The objects that make it into the gallery are exhibited at the Venice Biennale and freely sold - although a traveler is unlikely to have enough money to buy the works of particularly fashionable artists and sculptors.

In addition, the Loring Augustine Gallery resells Old Master paintings and is a member of the United States Art Dealers Association. This is a kind of guarantee of quality: the buyer can be assured that the item passing into his possession has an absolutely "clean" history and will not later be the subject of a lawsuit.

Entrance to the gallery is free; the traveler can wander through the halls, admiring the works of contemporary authors, and when he gets tired, rest in the cozy cafe open right there or choose some copies as souvenirs in the store. It is not advisable to take photographs indoors; at least one should obtain the caretaker's permission before starting the process.

Luring Augustine Gallery - how to get in and how much to pay

• Address: 531 West Twenty-fourth Street.
• Directions: by subway, bus or cab.
• Time for the tour: Tuesday through Sunday from 10:00 to 18:00.
• Ticket: not needed.

Park Place Gallery

Another gallery, also specializing in contemporary art, is located near a park in Manhattan's SoHo neighborhood. In the 1960s, it was moved here from West Broadway, thus becoming a collection of art treasures in this strictly business location.

The Park Place Gallery's first director, John Gibson, established his own collection of paintings and sculptures shortly after the project began; he was succeeded by Paula Cooper, who contributed greatly to the collection, systematized the collections and brought the institution international fame.

At present, the gallery is in a mothballed state: the visitor who is not too lazy to enter Lower Manhattan will be able to enjoy the masterpieces exhibited here in the 1960s and 1970s, to wander through the quiet rooms and imagine himself as a connoisseur or a buyer. You can't buy anything here anymore: works by Magar, Rood, Grosvenor, Novros, Melcher and many others are municipal property and are not for sale.

The museum is a great place to visit, but there are no restrictions on photography. Next to the exhibition halls is a small souvenir store - here you can buy brochures about the history of Park Place Gallery, guidebooks, posters and calendars and, of course, copies and photos of paintings.

Park Place Gallery - how to get in and how much to pay

• The address is 155 Worcester Street.
• Directions: by subway, bus or cab.
• Time for the tour: Tuesday through Sunday - from 09:00 to 17:00.
• Ticket: not needed.

Living Museum

One cannot predict what emotions will come over a traveler when he or she visits the Living Museum, a place where the works of patients at Creedmoor Psychiatric Hospital are collected. Without knowing the history of the paintings, one might perceive them as undoubted masterpieces, or as the work of people completely devoid of talent; but after reading the explanatory plates and observing one of the artists working in full view, the tourist will understand that each piece on display here has its price - and, as the sales statistics show, not a small one.

In essence, the Living Museum is a way of combining the group psychotherapy sessions of patients and the business of supporting creators and the clinic. The main room is the office of Dr. Marton, the director and creator of this unusual place. Around it are the tables and chairs at which the artists and sculptors work; the other rooms - ten in all - are devoted to exhibition halls.

The collection of patients' works is divided into several thematic expositions: "Home", "Clinic", "Work", "Family", "Religion", "Cinema", "Animals" and so on - due to the nature of the creation of the author's work can belong to several categories at the same time and, therefore, be placed not in the most appropriate room.

After finishing the tour and chatting with the artists, visitors have a chance to relax in the cozy green garden, enjoy the view of smooth, well-kept paths, swaying tree crowns, neatly placed lanterns along the perimeter and watch squirrels running back and forth - there are quite a few of them in New York City parks. The authors of paintings and sculptures are also inspired by the garden - they walk here quite freely, causing no inconvenience to anyone and not having an unpleasant feeling of intensive supervision themselves.

You can get into the Living Museum from Monday through Saturday; the artists themselves are there on weekdays from 9 a.m. to noon and from two to five in the afternoon. On average, they number no more than 20; occasionally, larger groups of up to 30-35 people gather here. It is interesting to note that, according to statistics, patients who are in such "natural" conditions recover more often and faster than in the four walls of the hospital.

"The Living Museum - how to get in and how much to pay

• Address: 79-25 Winchester Blvd.
• Directions: by subway, bus or cab.
• Time for the tour: Monday through Saturday from 09:00 to 18:00.
• Ticket: not needed.

Bryant Park

Located on Fifth and Sixth Avenues, Bryant Park is a beautifully manicured recreation area that has been popular with visitors and longtime residents alike. Until the middle of the century before last the park was a public cemetery; then the site was given over to the World's Industrial Exhibition. A few years later, its main attraction, the Crystal Palace, burned to the ground; in its place began to build the Public Library, completed only at the beginning of the XX century.

All these transformations had an extremely unsatisfactory effect on the appearance of the surrounding countryside; the situation became so unsatisfactory that even the Great Depression, which had blighted the city, did not prevent the new mayor from deciding to build a park in the unsightly area. It was designed by Lasby Simpson; to ensure the exact execution of the plan, the workers had to do the unthinkable: raise the "inner level" one and a half meters above the street.

One of the most interesting details of the park are the luxuriant sprawling sycamores whose seedlings were specially imported from Great Britain; they appeared here in the 1950s. However, despite the city's efforts, Brighton Park remained a gathering place for antisocial personalities for another two decades. That all changed with the founding of the Park Restoration Corporation. Cafes, open-air stages, libraries - and finally, decent citizens began to pay attention to the park.

Brighton Park's lawns are very cozy and are the best place for a quiet leisurely rest; you can sit, sunbathe and eat on them - of course, without building a fire. The traveler, who wants active entertainment, can practice fencing, roller skating, physical exercises and even juggling - the park offers free master classes on almost any topic.

Bryant Park - how to get in and how much money to take

• The address is between Fifth and Sixth Avenues.
• Directions: by subway, bus or cab.
• Tour times: Monday through Friday, 07:00 to 24:00; Saturday and
• Sunday - 07:00 to 23:00.
• Ticket: not needed.

Flatiron Building

"Flatiron" in English means "iron"; this is the shape of this unique, unlike anything else high-rise building. Twenty-two stories, tapering toward Twenty-third Street, will give the traveler a lasting impression.

This remarkable skyscraper came about by a happy coincidence: during the layout of the central section of New York into Fifth Avenue, Broadway, and Twenty-third Street, an unoccupied triangular section was created. At first it was given as a park; then a four-story hotel was built there that didn't fit into the geometry and wasn't very attractive. It was only in the 1890s that the construction of the legendary skyscraper began.

This would not have happened if the former building had not been destroyed by a terrible fire in 1893; the architects of the new structure were D. Byrne and F. Dinkelberg, who added Chicago elements to the appearance of the building.

As conceived by the authors of the skyscraper was named "Fuller Building" (after the name of the owner company); however, the name did not stick, and resourceful locals gave the high-rise a new one - the Flatiron Building.

The building is fully operational: inside are the offices of major New York and international companies and corporations; the visitor can ascend to any floor either by stairs or by a convenient high-speed elevator. On the 15th and 21st floors there are compact observation decks; in addition, for a few dollars, tourists can climb to the roof and enjoy the view of the vast city in all its splendor.

Flatiron Building - how to get in and how much to charge

• The address is 175 Fifth Avenue.
• Directions: by subway, bus or cab.
• Time for the tour: Monday through Saturday from 08:00 to 22:00.
• Ticket: not needed.

Castle Clinton

Fort Clinton was erected in Manhattan at the beginning of the century before last not far from another famous stronghold, Fort Amsterdam, founded during the settlement of America. Originally, as the name suggests, the castle was built to house armed units, but within ten years of its completion it was converted into a public garden and later into an art gallery and concert hall.

But to people who know the history of the United States, Fort Clinton is known primarily as the immigration point of New York: during the thirty-five years of its existence, some ten million newcomers - Irish, Italians, Finns, Russians, Poles, Jews, and people of other nationalities - passed through it. North America attracted immigrants from all over the world, and for many it was the gateway to a better life.

At one time Fort Clinton hosted William Morris, Harry Houdini, Nikola Tesla, Joseph Pulitzer, and other settlers who made their new homeland famous. In 1890, passing functions were taken over by Ellis Island, and the castle was turned into a huge, New York City's first aquarium. In 1941 the institution was abolished, and now it is a historical monument, open to the public and attracting tens of thousands of tourists year after year.

Clinton Castle - how to get in and how much money to take

• The address is 26 Wall Street.
• Directions: by subway, bus or cab.
• Time for the tour: daily from 07:45 to 18:00.
• Ticket: not needed.

St. John the Evangelist Cathedral

A huge, beautifully decorated and, unfortunately, unfinished building of the main Anglican cathedral of New York is located in the Morningside neighborhood. The total area of the temple - about 11 thousand square meters; the length of the building - 185 meters, and width - 70 meters. Formally it is the largest cathedral belonging to the Anglican denomination; perhaps in time it will be completed after all - and take its place in the Guinness Book of Records.

The original architectural style of the building was Romanesque, close to the concept of Greek Orthodox churches; already in the first phase of construction it was changed to Neo-Gothic. The first pause in construction, as well as all subsequent ones due to lack of funds, came in 1941. Work resumed in 1978 and continued until 1999; since then, the church remains unfinished.

Inside the cathedral, several decorative styles are combined; in particular, there are "English," "Italian," "Spanish," "French," and "German" prayer rooms. Each has its own large, perfectly tuned organ. The impression of the music is somewhat spoilt by the poor acoustics, associated with the unfinished nature of the temple. However, concerts in the cathedral are held regularly; for example, the famous Duke Ellington performed here.

St. John the Evangelist Cathedral - how to get in and how much to pay

• The address is 1047 Amsterdam Avenue.
• Directions: by subway, bus or cab.
• Time for a tour: daily from 07:00 to 18:00.
• Ticket: not needed.

Union Square

A beautiful public park dedicated to the unity of the nation was laid out in downtown Manhattan in the thirties before the last century. Political demonstrations, demonstrations, rallies, and soliloquies were (and still are) regularly held here. There is also a market in Union Square Monday through Thursday, where travelers can buy fresh vegetables, fruit, spices, and bread.

There are also monuments to Abraham Lincoln, de Lafayette, George Washington, and Mahatma Gandhi, each of which can be photographed or professionally photographed.

Union Square - how to get in and how much money to take

• Address: Union Square.
• Directions: by subway, bus or cab.
• Time for the tour: daily from 06:00 to 24:00.
• Ticket: not needed.

Sleep No More

Quests have been very popular lately; "No More Sleep," based on Shakespearean plays and contemporary literary works, combines a classic quest and a theatrical performance, giving the viewer the opportunity to enjoy the action without too much brain strain.

It's impossible to say whether it's scary or not: it all depends on perception. But it is certainly interesting: the visitor can go from one room of a separate mansion to another, touch any object, communicate with the actors and even receive small rewards. The main thing is to have time to buy a ticket: at a relatively high price they are sold out with great speed.

Sleep No More - how to get in and how much to charge

• Address: 530 West Twenty-seventh Street.
• Directions: by subway, bus or cab.
• Time for the tour: daily from 18:00 to 24:00.
• Ticket: from $80.

Nelson Tower

Far from the tallest, but perfectly harmonious skyscraper, it stands on Seventh Avenue a few meters from downtown Manhattan. It stretches upward 175 meters, rising in ledges-no boring one-plane surfaces and no ridiculous spires growing out of nowhere.

The building was built in the early 1930s and happily escaped several fires; it now houses the offices of major American companies.

Nelson Tower - how to get in and how much to pay

• Address: 446 Seventh Avenue.
• Directions: by subway, bus or cab.
• Time for a tour: daily from 07:00 to 21:00.
• Ticket: not needed.

Bronx Zoo

The zoo, located in the Bronx (just south of the Botanical Gardens), is the perfect place to finish your New York City sightseeing. Here, on an area of more than one square kilometer, there are several hundred species of animals, in all - more than four thousand individuals.

It is the largest zoo in North America, with an average of three million visitors a year. The entrance fee is quite expensive, but you should not turn down the pleasure of seeing cute and fearsome, small and large animals.

The Bronx Zoo - how to get in and how much to pay

• The address is 2300 Southern Boulevard.
• Directions: by subway, bus or cab.
• Tour time: daily from 10:00 to 17:00 (March to November only).
• Ticket: $24 for children under 12; $34 for adults.

To summarize

There is always something to see in New York City, whether on your first or second visit or any other visit in turn. Don't concentrate on the well-known sights - it's much better to get to know the city from an unexpected perspective by walking through the above-mentioned interesting and not-so-beloved by tourists places. At the end of your trip, you can head south to see San Francisco's temples and historic buildings, or drive through major U.S. national preserves.

The tourist should make a travel plan in advance: the sights in New York are located at a great distance from each other, and it is impossible to go around them in one day. The city's museums should be given special attention: there are many of them, and they are really well organized. Now, with all the necessary documents and money ready, you can hit the road - don't forget to ask when the plane starts boarding.