Six weeks into a government shutdown that few people understand, and almost no one can justify, its effects on the numerous Manhattan sites administered, in whole or in part, by the National Park Service and the Smithsonian Institution are manifold and varied.<\/p>\n
Working from south to north, this reporter hit the water, and then the streets, to see what in Abraham Lincoln\u2019s government of, by, for the people had to offer on the combined Halloween and New York City Marathon weekend.<\/p>\n
The good news first. Governor\u2019s Island\u2014which politically is considered a part of Manhattan within Christopher Marte\u2019s District 1\u2014is largely open. With most of the island run by the city, only Governors Island National Monument<\/a>, including Castle Williams and Fort Jay are closed. Though this is unfortunate, it\u2019s likely not worth canceling a planned trip to the island for this reason alone.<\/p>\n Over in Battery Park, which includes Castle Clinton<\/a>, inside of which is the only authorized ticket for cruises to Ellis and Liberty islands, things are surprisingly\u2014normal. The armies of ticket scammers were out<\/a>, ready to pounce on every apparent tourist to walk by or emerge from the subway stations at South Ferry, Whitehall Street and Bowling Green but so were various federal employees, including a National Park Service EMT, a bilingual English-Spanish interpreter; a friendly U.S. Park Police officer and his SUV within the maritime monument; and the various Castle Clinton workers.<\/p>\n While nobody wanted to be quoted on the record, and some people seemed to be genuinely uncertain about what\u2019s happening, it appears that operations here are self-funded and everyone is happy to be working. Similarly, Statue City Cruises, the only official operator of ferries to Liberty Island<\/a> and Ellis Island<\/a>, both are which are open, preferred not to comment.<\/p>\n Fighting one\u2019s way past the tourist ticket malingerers at Bowling Green, the National Museum of the American Indian<\/a>, located in the old U.S. Custom Houses and operated by the Smithsonian Institution, is closed. Though the beauty of the museum\u2019s edifice is much reduced by a massive construction shed on its eastern half, the last time this reporter visited the museum, its interior, and exhibits were still stunning. With nobody present to ask questions of, it can be speculated that a museum with free admission that\u2019s open 364 days a year\u2014it\u2019s only closed on Christmas\u2014doesn\u2019t have much financial leeway.<\/p>\n Bopping over to Broad Street and heading north, Federal Hall National Monument<\/a>, the \u201cbirthplace of American government,\u201d on Wall Street has been closed since October 10. Clad in scaffolding and nets due to fa\u00e7ade decay, what should be an inspiring visit to one of the most historically resonant sites in Manhattan ends in multiple frustrations. Of all the things the government spends money on, it can\u2019t expedite the restoration of Federal Hall?<\/p>\n As expected, the African Burial Ground National Monument<\/a>, the musuem component of which inside the Ted Weiss Federal Building at Broadway and Duane Street is closed. Frustratingly, access to its outdoor memorial sculpture at Duane and Elk Streets is restricted\u2014as it was for a month this past summer<\/a>, because of security concerns related to anti-ICE protests nearby.<\/p>\n The latest eruption followed the recent federal raid on Canal Street counterfeit fashion and Apple AirPod vendors, many of them West Africans from Senegal.<\/p>\n When public access to Duane and Elk Steets might be restored, no cop, federal or city, could say though the fact that it did reopen before is hopeful.<\/p>\n The good news in Greenwich Village is that the Stonewall National Monument<\/a> is open, within its present off-season hours of 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Come May, the iconic LGBTQ+ site is open until 8 p.m. While the park itself is modest, its historical significance is substantial.<\/p>\n Over in Gramercy, the Theodore Roosevelt Birthplace<\/a> at 28 E. 20th Street between Park and 5th is closed. If one has neglected to visit this recreation of the former NYPD Commissioner, Vice President and President\u2019s childhood home, remember, its hours are Wednesday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and admission is free.<\/p>\n Operated under the auspices of the Smithsonian, the Cooper-Hewitt Design Museum<\/a> on 5th Avenue at East 91st Street is closed.<\/p>\n