Monday in the US was Labor Day - the end of summer bank holiday. Unlike the UK it takes place on the first Monday in September, instead of the last in August, and also shares some of the DNA of May Day. Apparently there are parades for it, but the main one isn't until Saturday.
For the day I headed down to see the Statue of Liberty, as it was probably the only site of New York that I couldn't see clearly from the Top of the Rock the day before. You have to go through airport-style security to get on the ferry over to the island, which was quite busy (I guess it being a bank holiday!) On the island you get a free audio tour to take you around, which was interesting as it talked about its history such as how the frame for the statue was designed by Gustave Eiffel (before he designed his tower!). Unfortunately the statue itself was closed for renovation so I couldn't go inside, but it was great to see it.
Also included with the ticket was a trip over to Ellis Island. Here is where immigrants to America used to be processed when they arrived. The tour took you through the full assessment process they would have gone through, as well as having several other museum exhibits. Interesting to note that 98% of people were accepted who went through the process... would be different today!
After getting the ferry back I had a wander around the area and up Wall Street. At the end of here was the Federal Hall, which stands on the site where George Washington was inaugurated as President of the US and the first Congress sat (the building itself has been replaced by one equally as impressive though). Inside the hall was a display of Presidential photos as well as about New York more generally. I also wandered up past City Hall and its park and visited a few bookshops on my way back to the hotel.
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