New York - Civic Center

The African Burial Ground in New York City is considered to be the only urban pre-Revolutionary African cemetery in the United States. It was used during the 1700's when Africans made up 20% of the New York population.

The African Burial Ground Visitor Center houses art in the lobby as well as the history of the burial ground.

New York City Hall is a fine example of early-nineteenth century American architecture, constructed from 1803-1812. It's a Georgian building with a touch of French Renaissance.

The Criminal Courts Building is Art Moderne in style, and houses night courts where cases are heard 5 p.m. to 1 a.m. on weeknights.

The Municipal Building dominates the Civic Center and houses government offices and a marriage chapel. The building's architectural style is influential, for example reportedly upon Moscow University.

The New York County Courthouse is a hexagonal building featuring a fluted Corinthian portico at the top of a wide staircase. The circular-columned rotunda features Tiffany lighting fixtures and a series of rich marble and ceiling murals dealing with law and justice.

The Old New York County Courthouse was the setting of the "Boss" Tweed scandal of the 1870s when the infamous political boss pocketed $9 million of the total $14 million cost. The building itself is of Italianate design and is now used as city offices.

Schermerhorn Row is part of the South Street Seaport and contains several nineteenth century buildings, many restored. A visitor's center, shops and restaurants are available.

St. Paul's Chapel is Manhattan's only pre-Revolutionary War church. It is a Georgian-style building with a colorful interior lit by Waterford chandeliers. The churchyard commemorates actor George Frederick Cooke.

The Surrogate's Court, Hall of Records is a Beaux Arts landmark. The building has an elaborate columned facade of white Maine granite, a high mansard roof, statues of notable New Yorkers over the colonnade and twin marble stairways.

The Hall of Records holds public records dating back to 1664.

The United States Courthouse is the last work by Cass Gilbert, designer of the Woolworth Building. The 31-storey building has a pyramid-topped tower set upon a classical temple case. Aerial walkways link this building with the Police Plaza Annex.

The Woolworth Building was the Gothic headquarters Frank W. Woolworth's department store chain. Designed by Beaux Arts architect, Cass Gilbert, the building has touches of gargoyles, flying buttresses, a pyramid roof and a high glass-tile mosaic ceiling. It's a mix of twentieth-century structure and fifteenth-century Gothic detail. At 792 feet, the Woolworth was the tallest building in the world when it opened in 1913.