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North
America USA
New
York Native
Americans from the Lenape Nation, the Shinnecock, the Canarsee Delaware and other
Algonquin tribes were the first settlers in the New York area. They began the
long New York tradition of welcoming tourists.
When
the first Europeans to discover New York dropped in for a visit in 1524, Native
Americans went out in their canoes to greet the new arrivals. The Italian explorer
who they met was Giovanni da Verrazano. You may recognize his name from the modern
Verrazano-Narrows
Bridge. He accepted the welcome and gifts from the people who lived there.
He trip was being paid for by the French government, so he named the land New
Angoulême in honor of the king and claimed ownership of the land. Next
came the Dutch and, like many visitors to New York, they liked it so much they
decided to stay. They established New York's first European settlement at what
is now the state capital in Albany.
On May 6, 1626, it was Peter
Minuit who purchased Manhattan
Island from the Lenape Indians in exchange for some trinkets, beads and wampum
worth about 60 Dutch guilders. The colony of New Amsterdam was established and
the precedent was set for the trades that make up New York City's high priced
real estate
market today. In
1664, the English arrived to take control of New Amsterdam without a shot being
fired. Rechristened New York, for the Duke of York, the area was briefly back
in Dutch hands for a while and renamed New Orange. The British took back the colony
and the area once again became New York. It remained under British control throughout
the Revolutionary War... and the name became permanent. The
first capital of the United States was New
York City and it remained the nation's capital until 1790. Visitors can see
the spot where George Washington was inaugurated as the first President of the
United States on April 30, 1789. It's the Federal
Hall on Wall Street. From
New York City, the scenic Hudson
River served as a natural transport for trade and transportation to and from
the state's northern areas. Trade reach was further expanded to the Midwest U.S.
and the Great Lakes with the opening of the Erie
Canal in 1825. These areas are less commercial since cheaper ways to transport
goods were discovered, but the natural beauty, climate and history make for a
great New York visit. Today,
New York State remains a major manufacturer and industry giant as well as an agricultural
leader and leading wine producer as well as one of the major financial centers
of the world with it's center at New
York Stock Exchange on Wall Street. History,
great shopping, major universities, great architecture, forests, mountains, waterfalls,
beaches, Great Lakes, international cuisine, fashion, canals, Atlantic Ocean views,
spectacular bridges, fishing, hiking, skiing... New York has it all. Major
tourist attractions such as New
York City, the nation's honeymoon capital at Niagara
Falls, the state's more than 180
wineries, the Baseball Hall of Fame at Cooperstown,
Catskill Mountain
resorts and Long Island's
Atlantic shore beaches are still drawing international visitors and, despite
rumors to the contrary, the current native New Yorkers are very friendly. Take
a virtual tour of New York State or plan a real visit with these excellent online
resources... Related
Web Sites:
I
Love New York -
The entire state covered in detail, with travel tips and information by region
and season, with focus on top tourist attractions, vacation packages, travel ideas,
hotels & accommodations, New
York State for Kids, weather facts, maps. NYC
& Company - Welcome to New York City! - It'll take you more than a
New York minute to see this, the city's official site offering current travel
highlights, neighborhood guides, getting around, travel itineraries, hotels &
restaurants, picture gallery, maps, fast facts. Long
Island Tourism - NYC's bedroom community, and a major tourist attraction
all on its own with opportunities for fishing, boating, wine tours, historic places
and more with maps, pictures, beach guide. Niagara
USA - The nation's honeymoon capital with a guide to seeing the falls,
its nearby attractions, plus an event calendar and related links. Lake
Placid - The state's winter playground in the Adirondack Mountains, with
more on what to see and do throughout the year including fishing, boating, skiing,
sightseeing, hotels and dining.
New
York Fall Travel Calendar:
New
York Summer Travel Calendar:
New
York Beaches | New
York Wineries
New
York City Tourist Attractions | New
York Fall Foliage
also
see -> Christmas
in New York
Moving
to New York
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