WHERE IT ALL BEGAN
The birth of New York City (and the nation)

Lower Manhattan isn’t just the birthplace of New York City; it’s also the birthplace of the nation. Today’s quest takes us through the city’s first 200 years, from the arrival of the Europeans and the first Dutch settlement, New Amsterdam, through the heady days of the American Revolution, all the way up to the creation of the United States with New York as its first capital under the Constitution. Walking in the footsteps of Henry Hudson, Peter Minuit, Alexander Hamilton, George Washington, Thomas Jefferson and other key characters, we will hear the stories, visit the sites, and answer clues that combine to solve the ultimate puzzle.

Ages: 12 to 102

Time: 2.5 hrs if you rush/all day if you don’t

Best time: store hours

Price: $5.99

Starting point: the Statue of Liberty Vista Point in Battery Park.