The Morris-Jumel Mansion

Another attraction would be the Morris-Jumel Mansion(built in 1765) which is the oldest remaining colonial residence in Manhattan. This museum highlights more than 230 years of New York history, culture, and arts. Twelve period rooms exhibit the life and times of Colonel Roger Morris, the original builder, George Washington, who occupied the house as his headquarters in the autum of 1776, and the merchant family of Stephen and Eliza Jumel. After Washington's departure, the Mansion played host to a succession of British and Hessian military leaders, served briefly as an inn for weary travelers, and finally returned to its role as country house.

The mansion also has a rose and herb gardens, which date back to colonial times and has views of the Harlem River, the Bronx, and Long Island Sound to the east, New York City and the harbor to the south, and the Hudson River and Jersey Palisades to the west. All you have to do is simply take the "C" train train to 163rd Street. Exit the stairs at the south-east end of the station. Walk past the C-Town grocery store and proceed up stone stairwell on the left (east) side of St. Nicolas Avenue. Museum entrance is directly ahead of you at the end of Sylvan Terrace. Admission is only $4.00 for adults, $3.00 for senior and students, and free for children under 12.

Although I have to be perfectly honest, I have been raised in Washington Heights /Inwood ever since I can remember and I NEVER knew or heard of this museum. Not only im I intrigued by this attraction but i will love to visit it sometime , as so should you.

http://c250.columbia.edu/images/c250_celebrates/washington_heights/362x240_mansion.jpg http://www.nyc-architecture.com/HAR/HAR014.htm

Attractions in Inwood

Believe it or not there are quiet a few attractions one can visit in Inwood or Washington Heights. Although others may think otherwise, the tip of Manhattan has it's own history as well and it has it's museums as living proof of it's past. An attraction such as The Cloisters, which is located in Fort Tryon Park, pertains to the Metropolitan Museum of Art's collection of medieval art. The core collection consists of approximately five thousand works of art from medieval Europe. The collections date from about A.D. 800 with particular emphasis on the twelfth through fifteenth century.

There also are medieval sculptures and architectural remains brought from Europe by the sculptor George Grey Barnard. The building incorporates vaulted passageways, chapels, halls, and courtyards, and a large collection of artifacts from French and Spanish monasteries. The Cloisters offers special programs such as the frequent lectures, garden tours or programs, which are free with admission. Also regular workshops for children aged 4-12 and their families or for the music lover there are occasional concerts. In overall the museum offers a little bit of everything for everyone.

http://www.cartagenainfo.net/saintpeterclaver/04.jpg

http://www.washington-heights.us/links/frame.php?url=http://www.metmuseum.org/collections/department.asp?dep=7

My Community News

Amongst the Inwood and Washington Heights community there is a very well known organization called Alianza Dominicana. This organization is very popular because its mission is to "revitalize economically distressed neighborhoods by assisting children, youth and families in order to break the cycle of poverty and fulfill their potential as members of the global community". It is the largest and most relied upon community-based youth and family service agency in the area and annually services more than 17,000 individuals from Manhattan and the four other boroughs.
In my opinion I think that this is a marvelous organization because with a budget of $10 million their services include after-school programs; youth employment training services; "drop-out prevention services; summer day camps; youth-led community service projects; comprehensive HIV/AIDS services; facilitated enrollment in health plans; drug prevention and treatment programs; mental health counseling; day care and home care services; domestic violence prevention services; foster care and adoption services".


http://www.senate.gov/~schumer/SchumerWebsite/pressroom/record.cfm?id=261043

INWOOD COLLAGE

About My Community

In my own words I believe the definition of a community is when a group of people reside in a specific location, share government, and often have a common cultural and historical heritage. In some cases people have lived their whole life in the same neighborhood or community because they consider it their home. As in my case I consider myself to be part of the Hispanic community in Inwood Heights because that is where I have been raised for the most part.
Inwood is located in the Northern tip of Manhattan right next to Washington Heights. The two neighborhoods are often lumped together as one because administratively they make up Manhattan Community District 12. Although this section of Manhattan is generally ignored by most tourist map, there are plenty of places one can visit in Inwood and Washington Heights to learn about its extraordinary history.
According to a survey taken in 2000 Washington Heights and Inwood had a population of "208,414 people, which represented an increase of 5.2% since the 1990 survey and 15.8% since the 1980 survey, so the community has been growing. The racial/ethnic breakdown is as follows: 74.1% Hispanic, 13.6% white (non-Hispanic), 8.4% black (non-Hispanic), and 2.1% Asian/Pacific Islander".


http://www.washington-heights.us/