Cool fort. There is a small visitors center in the center. It’s cool to check off your bucket list, but overall not much to do there. It’s in the heart of Battery Park and is surrounded by many statues. I recommend.

This circular sandstone fort is in Battery Park on the southern tip of Manhattan, also known as Castle Clinton or Castle Garden.  Built in 1808, this landmark had held the immigrants before Ellis Island in the 19th century; and went on to serve as beer garden, exhibit hall, theater and reportedly, as an aquarium. I often stop by when I'm in the area. It's centrally located in lower Manhattan. Today I'm here to catch the ferry to Liberty Island on my island hopping trip.

Castle Clinton is amazing with incredible history! This is your first stop to the Statue of Liberty. Once inside there’s a great national parks store. Restrooms are also available. This fort used to protect lower Manhattan. Definitely recommended!

This is mostly just a place to pick up tickets to go to Liberty and Ellis Islands. Although 7.5 million people arrived here from 1855-1890 (including some of my German ancestors), there are only a few relics around inside, and one room with displays, mysteriously most of them are information about other places in America. I thought there might be a place to look up the names of some ancestors who came through here, but no.