The History Of The Staten Island Ferry In 1 Minute
No vessel is a more recognizable or constant trademark of New York City’s great harbor than the Staten Island Ferry – a bright orange floating lunchbox that Law & Order detective Mike Logan once rightly called ‘the Poor Man’s QE2’. We give you the history of the iconic Staten Island Ferry in one minute.
The Staten Island Ferry is so named because the boat, as it exists today, was kickstarted primarily for the benefit of Staten Island residents. Former New York State Governor and Richmond Turnpike Company Vice President Daniel D. Tompkins sought to foster the development of Richmond County’s (Staten Island’s) numerous villages, such as Tompkinsville, named in his honor. To this end, Tompkins secured the right to operate a ferry from Manhattan to Staten Island under the conditions of a municipal charter for the company.
The first of these ferries, equipped with then-brand-new motor technology, took to the harbor in 1817. Today, the Staten Island Ferry is run by the City’s municipal Department of Transportation (D.O.T.), under whose auspices the ferries acquired their instantly recognizable ‘municipal orange’ color scheme.
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The ferries run every half hour between their two large, brilliantly-designed terminals at South Ferry in Manhattan and St. George in Staten Island. Simply entering the terminals is an experience comparable only to entering Grand Central and the original Penn Station; they instill in their visitors a sense of awe, importance, pride, and solidarity with the City and all the people in it.
New Yorkers recognized the ferry as a great bargain throughout its long history, with the cost never exceeding a quarter per trip. The fare reached its lowest point in 1997, when Mayor Rudy Giuliani eliminated it altogether as his unique way of thanking Staten Island for giving him the votes he needed to win his electoral rematch against David Dinkins in 1993.
So for zero dollars and zero cents, tourists and commuters alike now have access to a smooth, 30-minute boat ride, which features some of the most breathtaking views of New York City landmarks like the Statue of Liberty, the Verrazano Bridge, and the mighty Manhattan skyline, alongside free WiFi and a small food court that features booze at a knockout price ($2 beer is no small thing in the Big Apple) to help maximize the fun.
📅 The Staten Island Ferry: 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
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meet our Local Insider
Hanna
HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN A GUIDE?
2 years.
WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT YOUR JOB?
It's the personal contact, the personal experiences. I love meeting people from all over the world... I really like getting to know everyone and feeling like I'm traveling with a group of friends.
WHAT DESTINATION IS ON YOUR TRAVEL BUCKET-LIST?
I have so many places on my list, but I would really lobe to go to Africa. I consider myself an “adventure girl” and Africa feels like the ULTIMATE adventure!
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Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.
Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.
Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.
We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.
