NYC Landmarks Flashcards

Statue of Liberty

This giant lady statue was a gift from France in 1886! She stands 305 feet tall (as tall as a 30-story building!) on her own island in New York Harbor. Lady Liberty holds a torch in one hand and a tablet in the other. For over 130 years, she's been welcoming people to America and is one of the most famous symbols of freedom in the world!

Empire State Building

Built in 1931, this amazing skyscraper was the tallest building in the world for 40 years! It's 1,454 feet tall with 102 floors. You can take an elevator to the top and see for miles in every direction! The tower at the top lights up in different colors for holidays and special events. It even has its own ZIP code!

Brooklyn Bridge

This famous bridge opened in 1883 and connects Manhattan to Brooklyn across the East River. It has cool Gothic-style towers and was the longest bridge in the world when it was built! You can walk or bike across it and see amazing views of the city. The bridge uses strong steel cables to hold it up.

Central Park

Central Park is a HUGE park right in the middle of New York City! It's 843 acres (that's bigger than 600 football fields!). The park opened in 1857 and has lakes, playgrounds, an ice skating rink, a zoo, and lots of paths for walking and biking. It's like a giant green backyard for everyone in the city!

Times Square

Times Square is called "The Crossroads of the World" and it's super bright and busy! Huge TV screens and neon signs cover the buildings, making it feel like daytime even at night. Over 50 million people visit every year! On New Year's Eve, a giant glowing ball drops at midnight while millions watch on TV.

One World Trade Center

One World Trade Center opened in 2014 and is the tallest building in the United States! It's exactly 1,776 feet tall (named after the year America became independent). The building is covered in shiny glass that reflects the sky. You can go to the top and look out over the whole city from the observation deck!

Rockefeller Center

Rockefeller Center is a collection of 19 buildings built in the 1930s. The plaza is famous for ice skating in winter and has a GIANT Christmas tree during the holidays! NBC TV studios are here, and you can visit the Top of the Rock observation deck for awesome views. There's also a cool golden statue called Prometheus.

Grand Central Terminal

Grand Central Terminal is a beautiful train station that opened in 1913. The ceiling in the main room shows constellations and stars painted with real gold! Over 750,000 people walk through here every day. There's a famous four-sided clock in the middle that's worth millions of dollars. Try the "whispering gallery" where you can hear someone whisper from across the room!

Chrysler Building

The Chrysler Building opened in 1930 and is famous for its shiny silver top that looks like a crown! It was the tallest building in the world for 11 months. The building has cool decorations that look like car parts (eagles, hubcaps, and radiator caps) because it was built by a car company. It's 1,046 feet tall!

The High Line

The High Line is a super cool park built on old train tracks 30 feet up in the air! It opened in 2009 and stretches for 1.45 miles. You can walk on the path through gardens and see art installations along the way. It gives you amazing views of the Hudson River and the city. It's like a park in the sky!

Flatiron Building

The Flatiron Building got its name because it's shaped like a triangle - just like an old-fashioned clothes iron! It was built in 1902 at a spot where two streets meet, making it super skinny (only 6.5 feet wide at the narrow end!). At 22 stories tall, it was one of the first skyscrapers in New York and is still one of the most photographed buildings in the city!

American Museum of Natural History

This awesome museum has REAL dinosaur skeletons (including a giant T-Rex!), a huge blue whale hanging from the ceiling, and exhibits about space, animals, and ancient cultures. It opened in 1869 and has over 33 million specimens! You can visit the planetarium to learn about stars and planets. It's one of the biggest museums in the world!

Metropolitan Museum of Art

The Metropolitan Museum of Art (called "The Met" for short) is one of the biggest and best art museums in the world! It opened in 1870 and has over 2 million artworks from around the world. You can see ancient Egyptian mummies, suits of armor from knights, famous paintings, and even a whole Egyptian temple inside the building!

Broadway Theater District

Broadway is where the most famous musicals and plays in America are performed! The theaters have bright lights and marquees that light up the streets at night. Shows like The Lion King, Wicked, and Hamilton perform here. Broadway has been entertaining audiences for over 100 years, and people come from all over the world to see shows!

9/11 Memorial

The 9/11 Memorial honors the nearly 3,000 people who died in the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. It features two large reflecting pools with waterfalls, built where the Twin Towers once stood. Bronze panels around the pools have the names of everyone who died. Trees surround the memorial, creating a peaceful place to remember and honor those who were lost.

Washington Square Park

This park in Greenwich Village has a huge white marble arch that looks like the Arc de Triomphe in Paris! The Washington Arch was built in 1892 to celebrate George Washington. The park has a fountain where people hang out, musicians perform, and there are always street performers and artists. It's a popular spot for New York University students!

New York Botanical Garden

The New York Botanical Garden in the Bronx is HUGE - 250 acres with over one million plants! It opened in 1891 and has a massive Victorian-style glass conservatory where tropical plants grow year-round. You can explore 50 different gardens including a forest, rose garden, and even a children's adventure garden. In spring, the cherry blossoms and tulips create a rainbow of colors!

Yankee Stadium

Yankee Stadium is home to the New York Yankees, one of the most successful baseball teams ever! The new stadium opened in 2009 and seats over 47,000 fans. The Yankees have won 27 World Series championships (more than any other team!). On game days, the stadium fills with fans cheering, eating hot dogs, and singing "Take Me Out to the Ball Game!"

New York Public Library

The main library building opened in 1911 and is guarded by two famous marble lion statues named Patience and Fortitude. Inside, the Rose Main Reading Room is as long as two football fields! The library has over 50 million items including books, maps, and historical documents. It's been featured in movies like Ghostbusters and The Day After Tomorrow!

Ellis Island

Ellis Island was the main immigration station from 1892 to 1954. Over 12 million immigrants came through here when they arrived in America! Families would get off boats here and be checked by doctors before entering the country. Today it's a museum where you can learn about immigration and search for your ancestors' names in the records. It's near the Statue of Liberty in the harbor!

Charging Bull

The Charging Bull (also called the Wall Street Bull) is a huge bronze statue that weighs 7,100 pounds! An artist named Arturo Di Modica created it in 1989 and placed it near Wall Street as a symbol of strength and power. The bull is in a charging position with its head down and looks super strong. Tourists love taking photos with it, and rubbing its horns is supposed to bring good luck!

St. Patrick's Cathedral

St. Patrick's Cathedral is a beautiful Gothic-style church that opened in 1879. It has two tall white spires that reach 330 feet into the sky! The cathedral can hold 2,400 people and has amazing stained glass windows that make colorful patterns inside. It's one of the largest Catholic churches in America and sits right in the middle of busy Midtown Manhattan, looking like a castle among the skyscrapers!

Madison Square Garden

Madison Square Garden (called "MSG" or "The Garden") is one of the most famous sports and concert arenas in the world! It opened in 1968 and sits above Penn Station. The New York Knicks basketball team and New York Rangers hockey team play here. It holds about 20,000 people and hosts huge concerts, basketball games, hockey games, and even the circus! Over 400 events happen here every year!

The Vessel

The Vessel is a super cool honeycomb-shaped structure at Hudson Yards that looks like a giant beehive! It opened in 2019 and is made of copper-colored steel with 154 connected staircases and 2,500 steps. You can climb up and down the stairs to different levels and get amazing views of the city. The whole structure is 150 feet tall and looks like something from the future!

Chinatown

Chinatown is a neighborhood in Manhattan where you can experience Chinese culture! The streets are filled with red lanterns, restaurants serving delicious dim sum and noodles, shops selling unique items, and signs in Chinese characters. It's one of the oldest and largest Chinatowns in America, and over 100,000 Chinese people live there. You can find amazing food, colorful decorations, and celebrations during Chinese New Year!

Apollo Theater

The Apollo Theater in Harlem has been showcasing amazing talent since 1914! It's famous for launching the careers of superstars like Ella Fitzgerald, James Brown, and Stevie Wonder. The theater has a weekly "Amateur Night" where new performers compete (it's been running since 1934!). The Apollo is a super important part of African American culture and music history. The bright marquee and neon sign are iconic Harlem landmarks!

The Oculus

The Oculus is a stunning white building at the World Trade Center that looks like a giant bird about to take flight! It opened in 2016 as a transportation hub and shopping mall. The architect designed it with white ribs that look like wings or a skeleton. Inside, it's bright and spacious with a skylight that opens on sunny days. The building cost $4 billion to build and connects to 11 subway lines!

Brooklyn Botanic Garden

Brooklyn Botanic Garden is a beautiful 52-acre garden that opened in 1910. It has over 14,000 types of plants from around the world! The Japanese Garden is one of the oldest and prettiest in America, with a pond, bridges, and cherry trees. In spring, the cherry blossoms bloom and it looks magical! There's also a rose garden, a children's garden, and greenhouses with tropical plants. It's like traveling to different parts of the world through plants!

Staten Island Ferry

The Staten Island Ferry is a FREE boat ride that takes you across New York Harbor! The bright orange ferry runs 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, carrying over 22 million passengers annually. The 25-minute ride gives you amazing views of the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, and the Manhattan skyline. It's been running since 1905 and is one of the best free attractions in New York!

Radio City Music Hall

Radio City Music Hall opened in 1932 and is nicknamed "The Showplace of the Nation!" It's famous for its Art Deco design and the Rockettes, a dance team that performs amazing synchronized dances. The theater seats 6,000 people and has a huge stage that can rise and lower. Every year, they put on the famous Christmas Spectacular show. The golden interior is so beautiful it feels like you're in a palace!

Little Red Lighthouse

This tiny bright-red lighthouse sits right under the George Washington Bridge, which looks huge and silver above it. You can walk down a winding path to reach the lighthouse and stand right next to it. Kids love spotting boats on the Hudson River and seeing how small the lighthouse looks compared to the giant bridge. It feels like finding a secret, magical spot hidden in the city.

Bryant Park

This park is full of fun things to do—ride the colorful carousel, run on the big lawn, or grab snacks from food stands. In winter, you can ice skate and walk through sparkly holiday shops. There are tables, games, and plenty of space to relax, making it a perfect stop between adventures. It's like a little playground in the middle of the city!

FAO Schwarz

This famous toy store feels like stepping into a world made just for kids. You'll see giant stuffed animals, shelves of cool toys, and even a huge piano you can play with your feet! There are fun surprises around every corner, and you can build or customize your own toys. It's a must-visit spot for big imaginations.

SeaGlass Carousel

Climb inside glowing glass fish that spin, light up, and change colors all around you! The ride feels like floating underwater inside a magical aquarium. Soft music plays as the fish "swim" in circles. It's a short, beautiful ride that feels totally different from any other carousel.

Little Island

This park floats above the Hudson River on giant tulip-shaped pillars, making it feel like a tiny fantasy island. You can explore winding paths, climb gentle hills, and sit in cozy spots overlooking the water. There are gardens, views, and even small stages for shows or music. It's a fun place to roam and discover new corners.

Roosevelt Island Tram

Hop into a bright red tram that rides on cables high over the East River! You'll see bridges, skyscrapers, and tiny cars far below as you glide through the sky. The trip is quick, but it feels like flying across the city. It's one of the coolest ways to travel in New York.

Children's Museum of Manhattan

Everything in this museum is made for kids to play, explore, and learn by doing. You can build giant structures, pretend in themed playrooms, make art, and try hands-on science activities. There's even a real fire truck to climb on! It's the perfect place for curious, active kids who love to touch everything.

Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum

Climb aboard a real aircraft carrier that once sailed around the world! Inside, you can explore airplanes, peek into the control rooms, and even walk through a submarine. One of the most exciting parts is seeing the space shuttle Enterprise up close. The whole museum feels like stepping into a giant adventure ship.

Museum of Illusions

This museum is full of rooms that trick your eyes and make the impossible look real. You can stand in a spot that makes you look super tall while someone else looks tiny, or pose in rooms that tilt and twist. Every corner has something surprising or funny to try. It's great for silly photos and lots of giggles.

Hudson River Park

This long park by the river has playgrounds, splash pads, sports areas, and paths perfect for scooters and bikes. You can watch boats sail by, look for helicopters taking off, or relax with a snack by the water. Some piers even have mini golf or climbing areas. It's peaceful, fun, and perfect for kids with lots of energy.

Pier 25 Playground

This playground is full of climbing nets, tall rope towers, swinging bridges, and sandy areas for digging. It's great for kids who love to climb, explore, and get a little messy. Right next to it is a mini golf course with fun obstacles. With water views and plenty of room to run, it's a favorite for adventurous kids.