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Places of Memory: Preserving Historic Sites Nestled Among Manhattan's. Skyscrapers
Who's buried in Grant's tomb? An old joke, but if there's anyone who knows the punch line, it's Joseph Avery. For two years now, Avery, 57 has been in charge of the preservation and protection of six national historical sites located in the New York City area, including the tomb of General Ulysses S. Grant, two-term president of the United States from 1868-1876.
As superintendent of the National Park Service Manhattan Sites, Avery is one of 369 men and women -- only nine of whom are African American -- in charge of caring for our national treasures.
Every year over 3.5 million people visit the six sites for which Avery has responsibility -- Castle Clinton, Federal Hall, St. Paul's Church, Theodore Roosevelt Birthplace, Hamilton Grange, and Grant's Tomb.
"I look at my job as an extension of the educational system," says Avery. "We educate people about the history of America and the contributions of our leaders. Our role in education is critical to passing on the legacy of our cultural resources."
More than 3,000 artifacts are housed in the Manhattan Sites that also function as museums with permanent and rotating exhibits and other displays depicting this history. The artifacts range from swords belonging to George Washington and Teddy Roosevelt, to the Bible used to swear in the nation's first President. Traveling exhibits are also on loan to other sites.
Originally built in 1811 as a fort for defense of the New York harbor, Castle Clinton National Monument later served as the immigration landing depot before the station was moved to Ellis Island. Located in Battery Park at the southern tip of Manhattan, Castle Clinton is now the main visitor center for the National Park Service sites in Manhattan. The park grounds contain exhibits introducing the New York City sites, a bookstore and information desk, as well as the ticket sales outlet for ferry transportation to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island.
Avery's office is in the Federal Hall National Memorial, located at 26 Wall Street, across from the New York Stock Exchange. The original Federal Hall was the site of the first capital of the United States, where Congress wrote and adopted the Bill...