Like any other borough, Staten Island is flourishing with landmarks and rich history. From cultural sites to baked goods, Staten Island has much to offer.
Snug Harbor is a cultural site that hosts a multitude of artistic activities, from theater and education to horticulture and agriculture. Once a rest home for 19th century sailors, it now features a botanical garden, regional arts center, and public park.
The Staten Island Ferry provides a free mode of transportation directly to Manhattan. This is a key factor in the everyday lives of Staten Islanders as many of their workplaces are in Manhattan, and there are no subway or bus lines that connect the two boroughs. Many tourists rely on the ferry as it provides an optimal view of the Statue of Liberty.
Clove Lakes Park is one of Staten Island’s biggest parks. Characterized by baseball diamonds, skating rink, and a 300-year-old tulip tree, the park offers not just aesthetics but also recreation. It even hosts a restaurant, The Stone House.
Holtermann’s Bakery is Staten Island’s oldest family business. The bakery evolved from using delivery via horse-drawn carriages to trucks. Today, they use recipes that have been perfected and passed down over the course of many generations.
Like Holtermann’s Bakery, Historic Richmond Town is a living remnants of the past. Its mission, “to preserve diverse stories of American Life” is fulfilled by the maintenance of their historic houses and buildings, a hands-on educational experience, and collection of artifacts. The nonprofit includes an open village, a museum, and guided group tours.
Alice Austen was one of the most prominent female photographers of the 20th century. In her home, now dubbed the Alice Austen House, she found inspiration in the dynamic nature of New York City, and sought to capture its change through her photographs. Her house, which was her place of rest, now serves to inspire other artists by exhibiting her images of American life.
The Vanderbilts–one of the wealthiest and most prominent families in America–made their mark on New York City during the Gilded Age through industrialism and philanthropy. Cornelius Vanderbilt, the head of the Vanderbilt dynasty, has roots in Staten Island, which is where most of the family resided until they moved to Greenwich Village. Cornelius participated in the Moravian Church located in New Dorp alongside the borough’s oldest cemetery. Inside is the Vanderbilt Mausoleum, where the family is buried.
