| Today David Hill with New York Habitat www.nyhabitat.com is going to show you a fascinating New York neighborhood, Chinatown. Chinatown is located on the East Side of Lower Manhattan. Let's discover makes this area so special. Make sure to check New York Habitat blog for more information about Chinatown http Chatham Square: What better place to start our tour of Chinatown than in Chatham Square. Once a large open air market in the early 1800's, it became a center for tattoo parlors, flophouses, and saloons in the mid 1800's, but today has turned into a major intersection in Chinatown. You'll find the Kimlau Memorial Arch dedicated to Chinese Americans in the name of freedom and democracy. Chinatown's History and Landmarks: On Mott Street, just a few blocks away from Chatam Square, is where in 1858 the Cantonese businessman, Ah Ken, became the first Chinese to immigrate to Chinatown. He eventually opened a successful cigar shop and from that point on, a steady stream of Chinese started settling in the area. When the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965 was enacted the Chinese population in this small neighborhood exploded. Today Chinatown's population is estimated around 100000. The MoCA: You may have heard of New York's famous museum, the MoMA, but while you're in Chinatown, be sure to visit the MoCA, the Museum of Chinese in America. At the museum, you'll learn more about the history and culture of Chinese America. Columbus Park: Columbus Park is the largest park in ... |
