Jersey City: Remembrance, Science and Theatre History

Jersey City offers travelers a variety of cultural and historical points of interest. When searching for a hotel, it may help to first consider which places and subjects interest you during your stay: remembrance, science, theatre history, historic living spaces or activities in different fields. Liberty State Park is home to Empty Sky, the Central Railroad of New Jersey Terminal and Liberty Science Center. Other highlights include Loew’s Jersey Theatre, the Van Wagenen/Apple Tree House, Reservoir 3 and the Mary McLeod Bethune Life Center.

Memorial and historic sites in Liberty State Park

Empty Sky is New Jersey’s memorial to the victims of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attack on the World Trade Center. It is located in Liberty State Park. Its central feature is two thirty-foot-high walls clad in brushed stainless steel. The walls bear the engraved names of 746 victims who either lived in New Jersey or had close ties to the state.

The Central Railroad of New Jersey (CRRNJ) Terminal was built in 1889 and serves visitors as a gateway to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. Its role for visitors differs from that of the memorial: the terminal serves as a gateway to two named destinations, while Empty Sky is dedicated to the victims of the attacks. This brings two distinct themes together in the same park—remembrance and a historic visitor gateway.

Science and theatre history

Liberty Science Center is also located in Liberty State Park, on the banks of the Hudson River in Jersey City and near the Statue of Liberty. It houses twelve museum exhibition halls and a living animal collection featuring 110 species. The Center is also home to the Jennifer Chalsty Planetarium, the largest planetarium in the Western Hemisphere. For travelers interested in science, the focus here is different from that of the memorial or terminal: exhibitions, living animal species and the planetarium.

Loew’s Jersey Theatre was built from 1927 to 1929 as a movie palace with 3,021 seats and could also host live shows. It is one of five “Loew’s Wonder Theatres” in the Greater New York area and the only one of the five outside New York City. Its capacity and ability to host live shows illustrate two aspects of its original design: film screenings and stage entertainment. At the same time, the comparison with the other four venues places the theatre within a larger group.

Historic houses and cultural activities

The Van Wagenen/Apple Tree House is the second-oldest residence in Jersey City. Its historic features include vaulted cellars and Victorian parlors; the site also includes a garden with native plants. The interiors and garden complement each other as distinct aspects of this historic home.

Reservoir 3 is located in the The Heights neighborhood and was originally built in the 1870s. It is listed on both the state and national registers of historic places. This destination therefore offers two distinct historical reference points: its original construction date and its listing on both registers.

The Mary McLeod Bethune Life Center is located in Jersey City’s Greenville community. It offers residents and visitors activities in culture, fitness, wellness and education. The Center’s wide range of themes distinguishes it from the historic buildings and memorial: the focus here is on multiple areas of activity, not just a single building or a particular historical event.

Discover more destinations: North Bergen, Bayonne, Hoboken, Harrison, Weehawken, Secaucus, Union City

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