Castle Clinton National Monument ⓘ

The United States declared War on Great Britain on June 12, 1812. The declaration was the result of long simmering disputes with Great Britain. The central dispute surrounded the impressment of American soldiers by the British. The British attacked the USS Chesapeake and nearly caused a war two years earlier. Additional, disputes continued with Great Britain over the Northwest Territories and the border with Canada. Attempts by Great Britain to impose a blockade on France during the Napoleonic Wars were also a constant source of conflict with the United States .

During the Battle of Bladensburg (August 24, 1814), the British marched into Washington, D.C., and burned most of the public buildings. President James Madison had to flee into the countryside. The British then turned to attack Baltimore but met stiffer resistance and were forced to retire after the American defense of Fort McHenry, which inspired Francis Scott Key to write the words of the "Star-Spangled Banner."

The war raged on for several more years until both sides were finally ready to negotiate a peace. The Treaty of Ghent was signed on December 24, 1814, but it took several months for the news to arrive back in the United States. The Battle of New Orleans took place on January 8, 1815, becoming the final major battle of the War of 1812.

Acknowledging increasing tensions with the British, American harbor cities began building forts for protection. New York City was no exception. Four forts were built to defend the harbor; Castle Williams on Governor's Island, Fort Wood on Bedloe's Island (known today as Liberty Island), Fort Gibson on Ellis Island and Southwest Battery on Manhattan Island.

Southwest Battery was constructed on the rocks off the tip of Manhattan between 1808 and 1811. The fort was fully armed with 28 cannons. Each cannon could shoot a 32 pound cannonball a distance of 1.5 miles. On March 27, 1812, General Joseph Bloomfield was appointed to the command of all the fortifications in New York City and harbor. He established his headquarters at Southwest Battery.

The four forts in the harbor kept the British Navy at bay and Southwest Battery never had occasion to fire upon the enemy.In 1817, the fort was renamed Castle Clinton in honor of Dewitt Clinton, Mayor and later Governor of New York.

In 1823 the fort was deeded to New York City. The following summer a new restaurant and entertainment center opened at the site, renamed Castle Garden. A roof was added in the 1840s, and Castle Garden served as an opera house and theater until 1854. Many new inventions were demonstrated there, including the telegraph, Colt revolving rifles, steam-powered fire engines, and underwater electronic explosives.

Opera singer Jenny Lind, the "Swedish Nightingale," made her American debut here in 1850. She was brought to America by none other than P.T. Barnum, famous for his American Museum full of "freaks," and later the famous circus which bears his name today.

On August 3, 1855, Castle Garden opened as an immigrant landing depot. The creation of Castle Garden, the first official immigrant processing center in the nation, represented a country at a crossroads, signaling a change in American immigration policy, and in the ways through which immigrants became Americans.

During the next 34 years, over 8 million people entered the United States through Castle Garden. Two out of every three immigrants to the United States in this period passed through the Castle Garden. It was closed on April 18, 1890.

With the Federal government taking control of immigration and the opening of Ellis Island, Castle Garden's time as an immigration center ends. The building was remodeled once again and reopened as the New York City Aquarium on December 10, 1896. The exotic fish and Beluga whale made the aquarium one of the city's most popular attractions. With over 30,000 visitors on opening day the aquarium averaged over 5,000 people per day. The New York City Aquarium was relocated to Coney Island in 1941.

Saved from demolition in 1946, the Castle was restored to its original design by the National Park Service. The site reopened in 1975 as Castle Clinton National Monument.

Today the site houses the ticket office for the Statue of Liberty . Castle Clinton receives an annual visitation over 3 million making it one of the most visited National Park Service sites in the country.

Castle Clinton's location at the tip of Manhattan doesn't exclude the area from having wildlife. There are a few species of birds and mammals that thrive in a city environment.

The Eastern gray squirrels of Castle Clinton are a popular tourist attraction. These squirrels are active throughout the year and do not hibernate.

The Eastern gray squirrel is mostly covered in gray fur but they can have a reddish hue. Its underside is white and it flourishes a large bushy tail. Individuals can also be white, brown, or black. They can grow to be 9-12 inches in length.

The Eastern Gray Squirrel’s native range includes the eastern and midwestern United States and nearby parts of Canada. It thrives in dense woodlands as well as urban ecosystems where the risk of predation is reduced.

Eastern gray squirrels often forage for nuts and seeds oftentimes burying these in the ground and helping with seed dispersal. In the city, they will also scavenge on food left behind by humans. Some squirrels may raid birds' nests for eggs.

These squirrels will often use trees for nests, especially holes which provide shelter for their young. They may also create dreys which are nests built in trees as large clumps of branches, leaves, and moss where they can retreat. In the city, they may find nesting sites in buildings as well.

In New York City the Grey Squirrel does not face too many threats, occasionally the local raptors will hunt them.

Infamous in the streets of New York City, Brown rats are generally active at night, so it is unlikely you will see them during your visit to Castle Clinton. One of its other names “Norway rat” is misleading as these rats did not originate in Norway.

One of the largest of like rodents, the Brown rat is usually brown or gray with a lighter underside. It can have a body between 5.9-11 inches long, with a slightly shorter tail length.

It is believed that this species is native to Northern China, but it has spread across all continents. Evidence dates it back as far as colonial times in New York City.

Brown rats are omnivores eating anything from seeds, to plants, and meat and their diets depend heavily on their environment. In urban areas, like New York City, they will eat almost any discarded food left by humans.

Brown rats will often burrow underground or within a similar sheltered habitat where they will nest. This can be in gardens, homes, or the sewer system. They will fill the nest with various materials to keep them warm and comfortable.

Threats to the Brown rat in the city include traffic accidents and rodent control, such as rodenticides.

The most common hawk in North America, the Red-tailed Hawk can be seen perched high in the trees or soaring around Battery Park; they are often visible at their perch from the parade grounds at Castle Clinton.

A large raptor, the Red-tailed Hawk is mostly brown on top and has a defining red tail. Its undersides are pale and a dark band can be seen across its chest and along the ends of its flight feathers while in flight. As raptors, they have characteristic meat-eating beaks that form a sharp downward hook for ripping apart meat and large talons that they use to grasp prey.

Red-tailed Hawks can be found throughout most of North America, breeding anywhere from western Alaska and Canada to as far south as Panama. Many move south from the most northern ranges in the winter, while others never migrate. They occupy various habitats and do well in the city where the buildings mimic tall cliffs and where there is an abundance of prey such as pigeons and rats.

Red-tailed Hawks feed mainly on mammals, but will also eat other birds, or reptiles. They will sit atop tall posts or in trees waiting for prey to swoop down upon. They may also hunt while soaring over fields or parks.

Red-tailed hawks create platform nests, which are large, flat piles of sticks with a small indent where they will lay their eggs. They build their nests in the tops of trees, on cliffs, or on manmade structures such as buildings and tall fixtures.

Red-tailed Hawks have a stable and growing population, giving them a conservation status of least concern. In urban areas, they are faced by threats involving human interference, including road collisions and the ingestion of toxic rodenticides when preying upon infected populations.

One of the smallest North American raptors, the American Kestrels' striking coloration and bold nature is a special sight. They can be seen in Battery Park chasing off the Red-tailed hawk or perched high up on a tree or post searching for prey.

A small falcon, the American Kestrel characteristically has a long-tail and two dark stripes on its face, but the male and female differ greatly in coloration. The male kestrel has bright blue-gray feathers on the head and wings, with a rust color on its back, and dark marks across its body. The female has the same rusty red-brown coloring with black barring and a gray crown, but lacks the bright blue-gray color.

The American Kestrel’s range spans across most of the Americas with some populations migrating from its more northern ranges. They can be found in grasslands and meadows as well as in more developed areas where they favor pastures and urban parks.

American Kestrels feed mainly on large insects but may also eat small mammals, birds, or reptiles. They will sit upon tall perches searching for prey or may forage directly in flight. They also exhibit hovering behavior, the ability to fly in one place, which not all birds can do.

This species nests in cavities, or where there is a hollow they can fit in to raise their young. These cavity nests may be old woodpecker holes, natural tree crevices, or small hideaways in buildings.

While American Kestrels have a conservation status of least concern, populations have been in decline, especially in the northeast. The reasons for the decline are not fully understood. Nest boxes are being put out to help the species with nesting site availability.

Rock Pigeons, or simply pigeons, are familiar birds to New Yorkers, found across the city along streets and roofs and around parks and squares. They are very social birds that often flock together where they can find food and safety. At Castle Clinton, you will find them perched along the walls, walking on the parade grounds, or tucked away in the casemates. Rock Pigeons were introduced to North America from Europe in the early 1600’s. In their native range, wild populations inhabit cliffsides and eat seeds and berries. Feral populations have adapted well to the cityscape where tall structures mimic the rocky heights and food is readily available.

These fairly sizable birds are most commonly described as blue bar, with mostly pale blue-gray feathers across their bodies, green and purple iridescence on their necks, and two dark bands along their wings. Although, this is just one of their many color morphs, as variations in plumage include solid, checkered, and splotchy patterns of black, white, blue-gray, pale pink, and rusty red colors.

European Starlings are very common in urban areas. Considered an invasive species, these birds are rumored to have been introduced into Central Park by Shakspeare enthusiasts in 1890. During the breeding season, they compete with native birds and will often take over suitable nest sites. They are also great vocal mimics, listen for their high metallic calls and chirps around the Castle especially in the mornings or around closing time.

European Starlings are medium-sized stocky birds, with finely pointed yellow bills. In breeding plumage, they are dark and glossy with green and purple iridescence. White spots can be seen on their bodies throughout fall and winter.

In North America, European Starlings have spread from Alaska to Mexico, where there are over 200 million individuals. They are found primarily around cities and towns, zigzagging on park lawns or fields where they forage. Their native range includes Europe, Southwest Asia, and Northern Africa.

European Starlings can eat a variety of things, but they prefer insects, which they forage for in grassy fields.

European Starlings are cavity nesters, meaning they will build their nest within holes. These hollow nests can be found in trees, streetlights, or hidden away in buildings.

European Starlings have a conservation status of least concern. While they are highly adaptable in their nonnative range, like most birds they face the inherent challenges of climate change including heat waves which can affect young nesting birds.

As their name suggests, House Sparrows can be found in company with humans near houses and buildings. They are another of our common city birds that frequent the area around Castle Clinton. Look for them hopping around on the ground near the entrance or out by the food carts in Battery Park.

Identification House Sparrows are small, round birds with stout seed-eating beaks. The males are much more intensely colored, with overall brown plumage, striped wings, a gray cap, and black chins. The females differ with more muted brown tones and no distinctive markings like the males.

House Sparrows are distributed worldwide, but their natural range lies in Europe, parts of Asia, and North Africa. In North America they are an invasive species, often competing with native birds for nesting sites. They can be found within the built environment where there are manmade structures such as buildings, sidewalks, and urban parks.

House Sparrows primarily feed on seeds and grains. In the city, they will also eat food scraps, but these are not as nutritious and may cause them damage. In the summer, they can be seen foraging for insects, which they feed to their chicks.

House Sparrows are cavity nesters, meaning they prefer to nest in small holes. In the city, these can be found in buildings, streetlights, and under overhanging fixtures. They tend not to nest in the cavities of trees as often.

House Sparrows have a conservation status of least concern. Although, like most birds they face the inherent challenges of climate change including heat waves which can affect young nesting birds.

Ring-billed Gulls are common species to see near the harbor, but don’t let the colloquial term “seagull" mislead you, gulls can often be found away from the shoreline. These gulls have adapted to live alongside humans and often frequent parking lots, beaches, and dumpsites. Keep an eye out for them flying overhead or on top of the walls at Castle Clinton.

A medium-sized gull that as an adult has a pale gray back, white chest, yellow legs, black tail, and pale eyes. It is named for its yellow bill that has a black-ring around it.

Ring-billed gulls can be found across a large portion of North America over their migration range. They can be found in New York City all year round around the water, but they are not restricted to coastlines as they often will fly further inland.

Ring-billed Gulls are diligent foragers and have a varied diet consisting of fish, insects, rodents, and food scraps. They are also notorious for stealing food from other birds.

This species nests alongside bodies of freshwater (such as lakes) in large colonies. Their nests are usually scrapes, or indentations, in the ground that they line with twigs and vegetation.

The Ring-billed Gull has a conservation status of least concern. Overall their populations appear to be increasing, it is speculated that this could lead to competition with other birds that nest in similar habitats.