Brisk winds flow through people as
they stroll through the dirt trails of Battery Park. As they grasp onto their
hats to fight the bullying winds, the sun hides behind the clouds, sneaking an
occasional peek. In this sea of memorials, all of the visitor's eyes are
transfixed on the large damaged sphere that once sat, perfectly shaped, between
the Word Trade Center
towers. While the visitors glance and look at the sphere from afar, pigeons
enter in and out of as if it were their home.
Walking toward the river, history continues to unfold. A brick was bears the
words "Castle Clinton" in bold lettering. This fort was built to
protect the shores of New York
from the British invasion of 1812, and it stands today as a symbol of strength
and perseverance for those in the city. But this merely a part of one chapter
in the biography of Manhattan.
The aroma of grilled shish kabob drifts into the air and floats under
people's noses, persuading them to have a taste. Some stop for a quick bite,
while others pay a visit to the "American Merchant Mariners
Memorial." A large family with Swedish accents crowds the marker in front
of the memorial. They snap a few photos and continue to make their way.
The Bowling Green Park, the first public park in New York City, is empty today. People walk by
it and make their way straight to the large bull. Teenagers climb the bull
while their friends take snapshots - identical to Pete Hamill's lucid
description in Downtown: My Manhattan. A tall man in a red uniform stands near
the Bull holding pamphlets for interested visitors. His serious face seems to
be carved on, with no traces of a smile anywhere. After answering a few
questions, he walks away. Still, more visitors approach the Bull.
Though there are various memorials, markers, and monuments that cascade
through downtown Manhattan,
they have become obsolete. Skyscrapers have now taken the lead role, towering
over the great old history of downtown. Between Pearl St. and Whitehall St. stands the 'Our Lady Of
Rosary Church' that was originally known as the Elizabeth Ann Seton and James
Watson house. Two skyscrapers overlook the church. When seen from afar, the
church stands out, as if it was drawn onto the scenery. Once again, it will not
be long before its story is erased.
As Hamill says, "In New York, the present becomes the past more rapidly
than in any otherworld city." As the clock of old Manhattan
winds on, a new city
evolves.
Vanessa Galindo is a Rutgers-Newark student. Posted September 2009.
