Chain Defense

“The importance of the Hudson River in the present Contest, and the necessity of defending it, are Subjects which have been so frequently and fully discussed, and are so well understood, that it is unnecessary to enlarge upon them” (George Washington, xiii).

The Book 

Chaining the Hudson by Lincoln Diamant highlights an important part of Revolutionary War history, one that can sometimes take second place to the well-known stories of Philadelphia and New York City. From the start, the leaders of the Revolution recognized the importance of defending the Hudson River, north of New York City. Without it, the northern colonies would be split in two and access to supplies would become extremely difficult. 

In 1775, the northern delegates to the Continental Congress emphasized the importance of protecting the Hudson River. The Hudson Highlands were originally identified as the best place for fortifications. The first attempt, Fort Constitution, was fraught with delays, poor design, and high cost. Fort Washington and two forts named Fort Lee were hastily constructed (George Washington had misgivings about their effectiveness) in 1776. They were joined by a chevaux-de-frise, “shallow-water obstructions […] to fill gaps in a line of hulks to be sunk across the Hudson River from Fort Washington to Fort Lee” (39). In July, two British warships defied these defenses and sailed up the Hudson with little difficulty. 

As the British took control of New York City, the leaders of the Revolution grew more concerned over the lack of defense for the Hudson River. In the spring and summer of 1776, Forts Montgomery and Clinton were completed to act as complementary defenses. An iron chain was placed across the Hudson in March 1777; it weighed 35 tons and was 1,650 feet long. The British attacked the two forts, by land, and filed through a link in the chain. However, by November 1777, the upper Hudson Valley was back in colonist hands. Military leaders decided that West Point (across from Fort Constitution) would be a better area of defense and a new chain was put in place in 1778. In August 1780, Benedict Arnold took command of West Point. He told the British of weak spots in the chain, but was caught before the British could attack. The West Point chain was never tested by an enemy vessel. 

When I first chose this book, I thought it might be more geared towards an academic audience. However, I was pleasantly surprised to find that it reads more like popular nonfiction. There are drawings, maps, and present-day photos interspersed throughout, helping the reader visualize. Diamant relies heavily on first-hand accounts, mostly from letters, to support the narrative. This is great, but sometimes the lengthy passages are difficult to follow. In Chaining the Hudson, the main characters are geography and strategy. Readers learn of troop movements, engagement, defense designs, and the significance of the area. The reader is periodically reminded of the simultaneous Revolutionary War events, to help ground them in the story. 

The Place 

Fort Montgomery is a lesser-known Revolutionary War locale, but still a worthwhile place to visit. On the northern edge of Bear Mountain State Park, it is surrounded by beautiful mountain and river views. The state park includes a small indoor museum, detailing the significance of the Fort to the defense of the Hudson. Outside are numerous cannons, original stone foundations and earthworks, and recreated structures. A brief walk downhill will bring visitors to Popolopen Creek, a tributary of the Hudson River. A pedestrian suspension bridge provides access to Fort Clinton and the rest of Bear Mountain State Park. 

It is a place that you might miss if you aren’t looking for it. A traffic circle can make it difficult to access if you aren’t familiar with them. My family got a bit turned around, but we eventually made it to the park. We spent a couple of hours there, which was plenty of time. A trip here could easily be combined with other sites in Bear Mountain State Park. Fort Montgomery is open Wednesday through Sunday. Admission is free and donations are welcomed.

A Force to be Reckoned With

“The riddle for a biographer is to explain how this Hudson River aristocrat, a son of privilege who never depended on a paycheck, became the champion of the common man” (xii).

The Book

The life of the 32^nd president was one of privilege and politics, trials and triumphs. FDR by Jean Edward Smith takes the reader through the entire life of Franklin D. Roosevelt. It provides insight, excerpts from personal letters, and a glimpse into a large figure in American history.

FDR’s career (1910-1945) in government spans significant moments in American history and the reader is given a front seat view to his thoughts and interactions with other political figures. Smith focuses on FDR’s reactions and decisions when covering events like World War I, the Great Depression, and World War II. Interwoven are stories of his family and personal relationships.

Over half of FDR’s time in government was impacted by his contraction of polio in 1921. The book spends quite a bit of time on FDR’s battle with polio and the aftermath. For additional insight into this part of FDR’s life, I would recommend the film Sunrise at Campobello.

This biography is well-written and provides just enough information for the reader to feel like they have a better idea of who FDR was and his public life. Little stories throughout each chapter help to entertain and show FDR as human. As you read the book, you are able to grasp what the context, time period, and relationships were like. Do not be put off by the length of the book (over 600 pages), the reading comes easily. There are certain sections where Smith’s admiration and political leanings are subtlety included in the narrative. While the author does spend substantial time on FDR’s personal flaws and poor public decisions, the biography does not always read as impartial.

The Place
The FDR Presidential Library and Museum provides visitors the opportunity to visit and learn in several different ways. The first stop is the Welcome Center where tickets can be purchased (for the museum, home, or both). Here, visitors are able to watch an introductory video about the life of FDR. Just outside the Welcome Center, you can wander the grounds where you encounter statutes commemorating FDR’s speeches or significant events, gardens, and the graves of FDR and Eleanor. I would recommend you take some time looking down the lane FDR would walk each day to regain his mobility that was lost when he had polio (see photo on right).

The tour of FDR’s home is with a park ranger and tickets are timed-so make sure to purchase them right away. Tickets for the museum do not sell out as quickly. The museum is self-guided and provides visitors an immersive look at FDR’s life and public service. Artifacts on display include his metal leg braces and personally annotated drafts of many significant speeches. For me, it was quite an experience to see FDR’s personal notes on speeches like the delivery to Congress after the attack on Pearl Harbor. 

The First President

“Fearing anarchy, disunion, and an end to American freedom if he failed to act decisively, [Washington] transformed himself-and the presidency-from a relatively impotent figurehead into America’s most powerful leader…” (3).

The Book

It is common knowledge that George Washington served as the first president of the United States and set many precedents that his successors followed. However, many do not know the reasoning behind the precedents or the extent to which Washington’s fingerprints are on the presidency. In “Mr. President”: George Washington and the Making of the Nation’s Highest Office, author Harlow Giles Unger outlines “the seven pillars of power [which Washington raised] that sustain the mighty American presidency edifice today-the power to control executive appointments, foreign policy, military affairs, government finances, and federal law enforcement, along with the power to legislate by presidential proclamation and to issue secret fiats under the cloak of executive privilege” (3).  

Unger begins his biography at the end of the Revolutionary War and follows Washington through the government of the Articles of Confederation, his leadership of the Constitutional Convention, his eight years as president, and his retirement. During this time period, the reader comes to release the precarious position the United States of America was in: civil unrest over the size of the federal government and taxes, state’s rights, and foreign influence. The reasoning behind Washington’s pillars of power is presented in detail.

There is a lot we can learn from Unger’s well-written biography of Washington. The reader will come away with a better appreciation for the role Washington played in the early stages of our country. Washington struggled with decisions, cabinet infighting, and negative press. He recognized his major failure as president: the inability to unite Americans into one country. The early stages of the United States were not easy or perfect, but Unger credits Washington with laying the groundwork for a stable presidential structure-one that still continues to this day.

The Place
The Washington Monument  was built to honor the man who was “first in war, first in peace, and first in the hearts of his countryman” (Henry “Light Horse Harry” Lee). However, the building of the monument was not simple. A monument was proposed prior to George Washington becoming president, but wasn’t completed until 1884. If you look closely, you can see two different colors because construction was halted for a time.

Inside the Monument, visitors will find a statue of Washington and an elevator ride to the top. The Monument towers over the National Mall and each of the four sides provide breathtaking views of Washington, DC, Virginia, and Maryland.

Currently, the Monument is closed (until Spring 2019) due to work being done on the elevator. Despite the fact that visitors cannot go up in the Monument, it is still a breathtaking site to walk along the National Mall and take it in. If you are planning a visit to Washington, DC in the future, check back with the National Park Service for additional information regarding the reopening. 

Gateway to Another Land

“The main building impressed upon immigrants that America was a substantive and wondrous land; the power of the federal government and the American nation made their stamp on the immigrant immediately” (122).

The Book

American Passage: The History of Ellis Island gives the reader a glimpse into one of the iconic places in American history. Author Vincent J. Cannato chooses to present a biography of a place, detailing the birth, growth, and retirement of Ellis Island.

Ellis Island opened in 1890 as a federally-run immigration station. From 1892-1924 twelve million immigrants arrived. Eighty percent were processed in hours, while twenty percent took days or weeks to process at Ellis Island. In 1900, the current building opened. Immigrants were observed and examined for physical and mental health issues, some were detained for long periods of time while others were sent back to Europe. The politically appointed commissioners attempted to enforce an often confusing immigration law, appease national sentiments, cater to immigration societies, and humanize the process.

During the two World Wars, Ellis Island served as a detention center for “enemy aliens” and, ironically, a place of deportation. Throughout the aftermath of the World Wars, Ellis Island became linked to national security. During this time, the buildings fell into disrepair and the station officially closed in 1954. With time, historians and children of immigrants begin to emphasize the importance of Ellis Island. After restoration, it reopened as a national immigration museum in 1990.

Overall, American Passage is a well written, detailed, and interesting book. Cannato provides an unbiased and honest history of Ellis Island, intertwined with the history of immigration. He does not gloss over the anti-immigrant protests and sentiments of the past or the corruption. Yet, the book is sprinkled with stories of immigrants who found a new life once they passed through Ellis Island. As I read American Passage, I couldn’t help but draw parallels to the current immigration debate. Cannato does a superb job addressing this parallel in his epilogue.

The Place

Ellis Island is synonymous with immigration and the Statue of Liberty. In school, we learn of the immigrants traveling to America, glimpsing the Statue of Liberty, and then processing through Ellis Island.

Just like the Statue of Liberty, there is only one way to reach Ellis Island. Statue Cruises provides a ferry to Ellis Island. Once on the island, there are several places to explore. The Great Hall provides a visitor an idea of what it was like to arrive as an immigrant. In this large open space, immigrants would wait in lines to be processed. Guided tours are available for those that want an in-depth understanding of Ellis Island. Visitors can also search the manifests of ships for ancestors that may have arrived at Ellis Island.

Ellis Island is still recovering from the effects of Hurricane Sandy, so some exhibits and locations are unavailable. It is always a good idea to check the website prior to visiting. 
 

Liberty Lighting the Way

“Soon, out of the mist, there loomed high in the air a great, somber, shadowy form, which grew vaguely distinct as the boat approached, and soon the well-known figure of the torch-bearing goddess stood revealed in hazy outlines…” (245).

The Book

Liberty’s Torch: The Great Adventure to Build The Statue of Liberty is both a biography of the sculptor and the sculpture. Author Elizabeth Mitchell introduces the reader to the sculptor, Frederic Auguste Bartholdi. The first chapters of the book cover Bartholdi’s life before he began work on The Statue of Liberty. 

Bartholdi first developed the idea for a grand statue in 1865 and originally proposed the idea to Egypt to commemorate the Suez Canal. Egypt turned him down and in 1871, Bartholdi traveled to America to seek approval there. The next fifteen years were spent fundraising, designing, and building.  Mitchell brings the reader into Bartholdi’s workshop and shows the steps of the construction process. The statue was built in France, then taken apart and shipped to America to be reassembled. On October 28, 1886 The Statue of Liberty was dedicated.

Mitchell provides insight into The Statue of Liberty that many Americans do not know. The statue’s official name is “The Statue of Liberty Enlightening the World.” Made out of 4,000 square feet of copper, the statue was originally red. It turned completely green about 40 years after it’s dedication. It is widely thought that the statue was meant to be a gift commemorating the friendship of France and America. However, “[Bartholdi] wanted to make the largest statue in the world more than he cared to espouse an ardent political view or lavish praise on America” (105). Ironically, few people know the name of Bartholdi today.

Liberty’s Torch is well-written and easy to follow. There are some sections where the author delves into side stories that provide background about various people involved with the statue. These side stories are not necessary, but sometimes provide interesting facts or perspectives. As I read, I wanted to know more about the actual building of the statue. Mitchell mainly focuses on the conception and fundraising for The Statue of Liberty. The book would benefit from a closer look at the construction and engineering hurdles and feats accomplished by the designers and builders.

The Place

A visit to The Statue of Liberty is a one of a kind experience. I have vivid memories of riding the ferry to Liberty Island, exploring the exhibits in the museum in the pedestal, climbing up to the crown, and looking out at New York City from the windows in the crown. 

The only way to access Liberty Island is by ferries operated by Statue Cruises. Once on the island, there are several options for visitors to explore. Tickets are required and visitors must go through security. The pedestal houses the museum and provides views of the harbor and New York City. In the museum, visitors can learn about the history of The Statue of Liberty. One fascinating part is a replica of Liberty’s head that visitors can stand next to and compare heights.

Of course, the main attraction is the statue itself. A climb to the top is well-worth it, but visitors should know what to expect. There is no elevator in the statue; visitors must climb 146 steps on a double spiral staircase. The line on the staircase moves slowly because people stop to look out the windows in the crown. Once at the top, the climb will be rewarded with beautiful views of New York City across the harbor. As you look out the windows, you can imagine what it must have been like for the thousands of immigrants arriving in America and glimpsing The Statue of Liberty for the first time.

Fortress on the Hudson

“The United States Military Academy, a sprawling stone fortification, looks down several hundred feet to the deep Hudson” (p. 35).

The Book

Sacred Ties: From West Point Brothers to Battlefield Rivals introduces the reader to six friends and their journey from the United States Military Academy at West Point to the Civil War. Three of the friends fought for the Union and three of the friends fought for the Confederacy.  While the overall focus of Sacred Ties is the Civil War, it begins with an introduction to the world of West Point. Students at West Point are referred to as cadets and their time is aimed at academics and military training. Tom Carhart does a good job of introducing the reader to life at West Point in the 1860s and pointing out the similarities to training at West Point today.

By following the battles of the Civil War, Carhart is able to follow the careers of each friend. A reader will only recognize one of the six friends: George Armstrong Custer; although the other five contributed significantly to their respective sides of the war. Carhart says, “The Civil War was probably the best demonstration of West Point’s central military role in America history, for in virtually all the major battles of that war both sides were commanded by West Point graduates” (p. 4). Throughout the book, Carhart points out other West Point graduates in addition to the six friends.

While the opening chapters regarding West Point are beneficial, the flow is challenging to follow in places. Carhart attempts to weave stories about the six friends in with training at West Point. It does not always flow as well as it could. Once the focus shifts to the Civil War, the flow improves. Overall, this book provides just enough detail not to overwhelm the reader. It includes lesser known battles and a fresh perspective on the Civil War.

The Place

The United States Military Academy at West Point is a unique place. A visitor feels like she is stepping into a castle fortress built to protect its inhabitants from invaders. The history of America runs deep and visitors can walk in the footsteps of Grant, Patton, MacArthur, Eisenhower, and Schwarzkopf. It is easy to imagine the generals of the Civil War at West Point because little has changed.

The best way to see West Point is to take a tour. West Point Tours, Inc provides guided tours daily and for groups. Some important highlights would be Trophy Point, the Old Cadet Chapel, the Cadet Chapel, and the Plain. Each of these plays a significant role in the history of West Point or the daily lives of each cadet. I would also recommend visiting the West Point Museum. Not only does it provide the history of West Point, but it is home to numerous United States Army artifacts and dioramas of historically significant battles. 

A visit to West Point is fascinating and educational. West Point is the intersection of the history and future of the United States Army. It is important to remember that West Point is a functioning United States Army post that requires visitors to pass through security before entering. 

High Above Manhattan

“It was, […] a building that would represent the United States, ‘a land which reached for the sky with its feet on the ground’” (5).

The Book

Mark Kingwell calls his book, Nearest Thing to Heaven: The Empire State Building, “a guided tour of the Empire State Building” (22). Kingwell provides the reader a history of the men involved, time period it was built, publicity, and the design. The driving force behind the creation was Alfred Smith, former governor of New York, and John Jakob Raskob, former employee of General Motors. Through their leadership, the Empire State Building took eighteen months to complete (four and a half stories a week), came in under budget, and ahead of schedule. All of this occurred during the Great Depression.

Kingwell looks at the Empire State Building as an icon, symbol, and phenomenon. He spends time on the skyscraper concept, architecture, and construction feats. The reader will read about the Empire State Building’s influence in culture, nostalgia, and film. We have a fascination with reaching the sky and the Empire State Building is a perfect example of that desire and a status symbol.  

Each chapter is interesting, however the book delves into political, social, and historical commentary. It would be nice to read more about the actual construction of the building and the people who worked on it. The guided tour is more a look at the Empire State Building’s place in culture and architecture history.

The Place

There are so many places to visit in New York City and you can easily spend a couple of days there. The Empire State Building can take up to half a day, depending on the time of year and day you plan to visit. Tickets are available online and at the Empire State Building. The inside is decorated in Art Deco, giving visitors a glimpse into the past. 

Once at the Observation Deck you can spend as much time as you want looking out at Manhattan. The views include: Lower Manhattan, Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, Brooklyn Bridge, Central Park, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and other various New York City landmarks. It will be crowded at the top, but space will open up along the edges. Cloudless days are the best to visit the Empire State Building, because you will be able to see for miles. I recommend planning to spend at least an hour at the top. The views are truly stunning.