“In the future days which we seek to make secure, we look forward to a world founded upon four essential human freedoms.
The first is freedom of speech and expression – everywhere in the world
The second is freedom of every person to worship God in his own way – everywhere in the world
The third is freedom from want – everywhere in the world
The fourth is the freedom from fear – everywhere in the world”
-Franklin Roosevelt, January 6th 1941
This was part of Roosevelt’s State of the Union Address in 1941 and is now known as the Four Freedoms Speech. A memorial park to celebrate this famous speech lies at the tip of the aptly named Roosevelt Island.
Wanting to do something a little different we decided to catch the Sky Tram. A short ride from one island to another with a different view of the Manhattan skyline.
This little island is steeped in history and whose name has changed several times over the years. First named Minnahannock by the native Americans, then Varkins Island by the Dutch settlers, renamed again when the Blackwell family made it home, until they sold it to the city of New York. You can still find the ruins of some of the buildings from those eras including Blackwell House, the small pox hospital and the Octagon which was part of the Municipal Lunatic Asylum.
Eventually the State Of New York was granted a 99-year lease and they created a residential development. It was then that the name was changed to Roosevelt. It’s main feature now is the Franklin D Roosevelt Four Freedoms Park that lies at its southernmost point.
The long treelined garden leads down to a bronze bust of the man himself. From here you get an amazing view looking back towards Manhattan and all it’s high-rise buildings. How appropriate that right from the tip of the Freedom park you can get an amazing view of the entire United Nations Complex just across the river.
Whoo after two big days in New York my goal is getting closer 944,669
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