Castle Clinton National Monument
Also known as: Castle Clinton; Castle Garden
Why it's listed
Castle Clinton is a round fort of reddish brownstone at the southern tip of Manhattan in Battery Park. Built between 1808 and 1811 as West Battery to strengthen New York's sea defenses, it was renamed for wartime mayor DeWitt Clinton after the War of 1812. It later changed uses several times. As Castle Garden from 1824 it hosted opera, concerts and receptions for guests such as Lafayette, and Jenny Lind made her American concert debut there in 1850. From 1855 to 1890 it served as the nation's main immigrant reception center, even after a fire in 1876 gutted the interior. In 1896 it became the New York Aquarium, which stayed until 1941. Facing demolition for the Brooklyn-Battery Tunnel, it was saved by citizens' groups and made a National Monument. The National Park Service restored it to its early military look, with walls eight feet thick and a one-story open design.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it links New York's colonial past to the young American nation and illustrates American military, urban and immigration history. It was a defense fort, then the Castle Garden entertainment venue, then the principal immigrant reception center from 1855 to 1890, then an aquarium. It was later saved from demolition and restored.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 66000537, listed October 15, 1966. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | South Ferry, New York |
|---|---|
| County | Manhattan |
| Listed | October 15, 1966 |
| Reference number | 66000537 |
| Resource type | Structure |
| Period of significance | 1808-1821 |
| Architect / builder | John McComb; U.S. War Department |
| Areas of significance | Community Planning and Development, Military, Entertainment/Recreation, Social History |
| Level of significance | National |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Public museum and park site under National Park Service administration, in good condition and restored to its early nineteenth-century military appearance. |
| Acreage | 1 |
| Coordinates | 40.70354, -74.01663 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For a publicly owned building or structure, listing mainly matters when federal funds, permits or licences are involved: projects then go through Section 106 review so effects on the property are considered. Listing also strengthens applications for preservation grants and, for leased income-producing uses, can enable the federal rehabilitation tax credit.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 66000537.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q12183776
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.