(This neighborhood has great shopping with several malls, tons of iconic shopping, amazing food, and museums. Check out Artesano, Eataly, Century 21, Nobu, Temple Court, and one of our many great bodegas.) (WALKING TOUR INSTRUCTIONS HERE).

Stop 7 - Revolution and Liberty

Every stop has multiple points of interest (POI)

(POI 20) - Bridewell Jail

(Face the park) On the ground in City Hall Park, you should see stones laid in a square formation. These stones are the remnants of the perimeter wall of the Bridewell jail, which the British built in 1768 and used to house prisoners of war during the American Revolution. The Bridewell was used to hold Thomas Hickney, who was accused of trying to assassinate George Washington. There is a marker on the ground explaining The Bridewell! 

(POI 21) Liberty pole

The story of the American Revolution is rooted in taxation without representation. After the repeal of the Stamp Act in 1766, the Sons of Liberty (American loyalists and spies) erected a Liberty pole in the Commons, now City Hall Park. The British kept destroying the Liberty pole each time locals rebuilt it, and at one point even blew it up. Eventually, this erupted into the “Battle of Golden Hill,” a precursor to the Boston Massacre. This is where Americans gathered to discuss their unhappiness with Britain. In the musical “Hamilton,” this is where Alexander Hamilton argues with a British loyalist in “Farmer Refuted.”

Years later, a final Liberty pole was assembled, and it is at that spot where George Washington and Alexander Hamilton read the Declaration of Independence to 20,000 troops in City Hall Park three days after it was signed. People were so moved by the declaration that they marched down to Bowling Green (Battery Park) and cut off the head of a statue of King George III. The statue was melted down into musket balls to fight the British. In 1921, a Liberty pole was erected to commemorate the original Liberty poles during the Revolutionary War era. 

(POI 22) King's College/Columbia

Turn around and face away from the park, and look toward the Duane Reade on the corner of Broadway and Park. You can't see it from Broadway, but one block behind the Duane Reade is the former location of King's College. This is famously where Hamilton went to college. King's College moved uptown and eventually was renamed Columbia University!