The perks of living at Vantage Collection are almost incalculable. With access to New York City entertainment, foods and culture, the possibilities for day-trip adventures are endless. But travel no more than 10 minutes and residents will find one of the most famous parks, not just in New Jersey and not just in the U.S., but the entire world.
Of course, we’re talking about Liberty State Park. The 1,122 acre park is located just 2 miles from Vantage Collection and is host to one of the most celebrated stories in U.S. history, the immigration of northern, southern and eastern Europeans to the United States.
Here are three facts to know about Liberty State Park before your next visit.
A Gift to the Country!
Liberty State Park, today, is a beautiful place to enjoy open space but it wasn’t always this way. Throughout the 19th and early 20th centuries, the area that is now Liberty State Park was a major waterfront industrial area serving an extensive transportation network for passenger and freight trains.
But as railroads and industry declined, the land was slowly abandoned and left to decay with overgrowth and debris. However, when the land was developed to become a modern park, it caused a renaissance in the area. Liberty State Park officially opened on Flag Day, June 14, 1976 as New Jersey’s gift to the nation on its bicentennial.
The Central Railroad of NJ
When European immigrants came to the U.S. between 1892 and 1954, they were processed at Ellis Island and then ferried to Liberty State Park where they would buy tickets to board the Central Railroad of New Jersey and travel across the region to their new home.
Today you can visit the museum dedicated to the CRRNJ Terminal and catch a ferry to Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty.
Events are Free!
Of course, there’s plenty to do at Liberty State Park, especially if you consider the park’s events. Follow @LibertyStateParkOfficial on Facebook to find out more about upcoming events like architecture tours, birdwatching walks and much more. The best part? All of the events are free!