5 Facts You Probably Didn’t Know About New York City’s Iconic Attractions

New York City is home to some of the United States’ greatest landmarks. How much do you and your students know about the historical, architectural and cultural icons?

New York Water Taxi offers trips along the Hudson River to experience one-of-a-kind views of the important landmarks—but the tour is more than sightseeing. Educational and entertaining tour guides share knowledge on New York City’s rich history, architecture and culture.

Interesting Facts to Get Your Lesson Started

1. The Hudson River was known as Machicantuck—”river that flows two ways”—by native tribes, because the Hudson is more than a river. It is a tidal estuary, an arm of the sea where saltwater meets freshwater. The estuary usually has two high and two low tides within 24 hours, and with the rise and fall, comes changes in the direction of flow.
2. One World Trade Center is the tallest building in the Western Hemisphere. It has 104 stories and stands 1,776 feet high.
3. The Empire State Building stands 102 stories tall. That’s 1,250 feet—excluding the height of the antennae, which is 204 feet tall.
4. A rooster made the first trip across the Brooklyn Bridge. A rooster … and Emily Warren Roebling, who rode in a carriage a week before its official opening on May 24, 1883. She rode with the rooster in her lap as a symbol of good luck.
5. “The Statue of Liberty” is technically a nickname. The statue’s full name is Liberty Enlightening the World. Lady Liberty wears a size 879 shoe and has a 35-foot waistline.

Keep these interesting facts in mind as you and your students tour New York City from the Hudson River. Learn more about New York Water Taxi’s educational tours at nywatertaxi.com.