In a city this sprawling, it’s no surprise that New York City has plenty of quirks up its sleeve. Art fans, sight-seekers, theatre buffs and hipsters alike find their paradise here among the impossible high-rises and super-scale museums. But for those who want to squeeze the most out of their cheap holidays to New York and search beyond the big-name attractions, here are five lesser-known NYC sights to make time for.
Hall of Fame
Located in the Bronx Community College, the Hall of Fame for Great Americans is missed off many an itinerary. But this open-air attraction not only has the familiar names and faces – Franklin Roosevelt and Alexander Graham-Bell to name just a couple – but they’re all housed in a picturesque classical colonnade from where you can enjoy the views of the Cloisters Museum over the river.
Noguchi Museum
As far as small sights go, this museum devoted to Japanese artist Isamu Noguchi is a gem waiting to be discovered. Situated in Queens by the East River, the collection runs through his modernist works, iconic lantern designs and an outdoor sculpture garden which provides a spot of welcome calm.
Irish Hunger Memorial
An odd attraction – part-reconstruction, part-dedication – which is situated not far from Ground Zero, the Irish Hunger Memorial is a sobering experience which is worth a detour from your schedule. Built in remembrance of those lost to the 19th-century Irish Potato Famine, you can enjoy the contrast of wandering round the open-air Irish cottage opposite the urban U.S. skyline for free.
Roosevelt Island
While an entire island perhaps shouldn’t be classed as a small attraction, it’s often passed over by visitors after a glimpse of Liberty Island’s most famous resident. But the journey on the aerial tram is an experience in its own right and once there, there’s a Gothic lighthouse, Four Freedoms Park and some rather evocative hospital ruins to entertain yourself with.
Relics of Staten Island
The commuter ferry which runs here every half hour is free, providing you with the perfect excuse to trace some of the island’s history. Formerly the site of the world’s best-known dumping ground, Fresh Kills, the derelict boats that now rest between Staten Island and New Jersey make for a fascinating outdoor installation. If this isn’t enough, the graveyard at Blazing Star is a place of haunting memories, sitting beside the sea-marsh.
This list is not a definitive one, as New York successfully hides many a secret level beneath its metropolitan surface that’s worth digging around for. While it may seem near-impossible to escape the beaten track here, with a bit of investigation, you can find some truly unique places and get a real sense of the vast number of people and influences that have passed through over the years.
Guest Post By Simon Clark
Jessica Tiare Bowen lives in the juicy Big Apple with her adorable pink-nosed chihuahua, Gillman. He’s the inspiration for her first published children’s book, “Park Avenue Pound Puppy.” The book is the combined result of her two greatest passions: pooches and penning stories.
Her passions include art, urban hikes through Manhattan, drinking coffee with 3 creams and 6 sugars, making extremely detailed itineraries and traveling to far away places, singing along to Broadway shows, Netflix movie nights, discovering incredible treasures at Goodwill and thrift stores, and listening to stories from little people under 7 and big people over 70.
She started her career as New York City Teaching Fellow, teaching elementary school and theater arts at a special education school in the South Bronx for 6 years. She is now a Special Education School Improvement Specialist working in public schools throughout New York City. She is the Editor-In-Chief of the online New York City travel magazine, Used York City. The magazine focuses on finding the best of New York…as used by New Yorkers. She is a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators, and an ASPCA Ambassador.
