Statue of Liberty 5/20/12

Summary: The statue of liberty is a statue that was first dedicated to America on October 28, 1886 by France as a gift. The statue is of a woman wearing a robe, and it represents Libertas, the roman goddess of freedom. The statue holds a torch in one hand and a book in her other hand, which has the date of the American Revolution written on it, which is July 4, 1776. The statue also has a broken chain laying at her feet. The statue has become an icon of freedom and of the United States. The statute is located on Liberty Island, which is a small island in New York Harbor in New York City. the statue is 151 and one foot feet tall and is known around the world as a major symbol of New York City.


Analysis: The statue was given to the United States by France to recognize the friendship that was established between the two countries during the rough times of the American Revolution.  The statue was designed and sculpted by Sculptor Frederic-Auguste Bartholdiof of France. Because of the statue's old age of 125 years, the statue has frequently been restored over the years to ensure that the statue is in good shape for many years in the future, and currently access to the interior part of the statue is limited due to planned improvements that are going to be made to the interior. During all season of the year, tourists come from all over the world to visit the statue of liberty and Ellis Island which can both be reached by taking a ferry.


Reflection Question: Why was the statue of liberty given as a gift to America?

"The statue of liberty history." thestatueofliberty.com. Evelyn Hill Inc., 2012. Web. 20 May 2012. <http://thestatueofliberty.com/liberty_island.html>.

holiday celebrations in nyc 5/13

Summary: There are numerous holidays that are annually celebrated in New York City. Many of these holiday celebrations in the city are displayed on TV, so people living all around the United States can experience the holiday celebrations from their own homes. Many of these famous American holidays are celebrated by extravagant parades, with hundreds of immensely large parade floats, many of popular classic cartoon characters from American TV shows or movies, such as Micky Mouse, Charlie Brown, and the Simpsons. Other floats can hold multiple people, who dance in whimsical costumes, or floats can display well known celebrities.

Analysis: Some holidays that are annually celebrated by immense parades in New York City are Thanksgiving and Saint Patrick's Day. Holidays can also be celebrated in other ways besides parades. For example, the tradition for New Year's Eve in the city is thousands of people gather in Rockefeller Center, where many celebrities perform in front of an innumerable number of people and anticipate the moment that the infamous New Years Eve ball drops from the sky. New york City is known around America for its lavish holiday celebrations and many people around the country will continue to visit the city during these holidays or just enjoy the celebrations from their own homes by watching TV.

Reflection Question: How are many famous holidays celebrated in New York City?

Cross, Heather. "New Year's Ball Drop in New Years Eve." www.about.com. www.about.com, 2011. Web. 13 May 2012. <http://gonyc.about.com/od/newyearseve/a/nye_ball_drop.htm>.

Central Park 5/6

Summary: Central Park is one of the most prominent parks in the United States. The public park is located by the center of Manhattan in New york city. The park is very well known around the world, and serves as a symbol of New York City. It is one of the most famous aspects of the city, along with the empire state building and statue of liberty. Central Park first opened in 1857, and in 1858 the park was improved and expanded by Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux, this plan to expand the park being called the Greensward Plan. The park is very popular among tourists, receiving approximately thirty five million visitors annually and Central Park is also the most visited urban park in the United States. When it was initially opened, it was 770 acres of land and was later expanded to 843 acres.

Analysis: Central Park is also well known to tourists as a park of breathtaking beauty, with its multiple ponds, lakes, plants and large rocks. The park also obtains the Central Park Zoo, a wildlife sanctuary, two ice skating rinks for the winter, the central Park Conservatory Garden and more factors that significantly appeal to tourists. Many people enjoy the park because its a place for many activities, including jogging, skateboarding, bicycling, and numerous sports. Multiple residents of New york city and tourists really enjoy Central Park and will continue to be amazed by it and enjoy it.

Reflection Question: When did Central Park first open?

"Central Park:the heart of the island at the center of the world." centralpark.org. N.p., 2012. Web. 13 May 2012. <http://centralpark.org/index.php/about-2/>.