what is the history of Navy Pier?
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Construction\nConstruction started May 1914 and in 1916 it was opened to the public. At the time it was the world's largest pier, 292 ft wide and 3000ft long (89m x 914m).\n\nThe pier was designed as a shipping and entertainment area. In its first decade, the Municipal Pier was successfully attracting both visitors and ships. It was also temporarily used as a military facility during the first world war.\n\n\nDecline\nBy the end of the 1920s, the Navy Pier's success started to decline. The introduction of cars and the opening of movie theaters created more competition for the Pier. Shipping started to decline in the 1930s due to the depression and the competition of transportation by trucks.\n\n\nNavy Pier\nIn 1927 the pier was renamed Navy Pier in honor of World War I veterans. It would turn out to be a prophetic name change, as the Navy Pier served as a naval training facility during the second World War. After the war it served as the Chicago branch of the University of Illinois. In 1965 the university moved to its new location and the Navy Pier started to decay.\n\n\nRedevelopment\nThe first step in the redevelopment of the Navy Pier was the 1976 restoration by Jerome R. Butler, Jr. of the Auditorium building at the eastern end of the pier. One year later it was designated a Chicago Landmark. Another step to the redevelopment of the Navy Pier was taken in 1989, when the city of Chicago and the State of Illinois installed the Metropolitan Pier & Exposition authority. At the same time they committed 150 million dollar for reconstruction of the pier as a recreational center. The renovation by Benjamin Thompson & associates started in 1992 and was completed in 1994. The result is a very successful recreational center next to Chicago's downtown area. With many attractions and 50 acres of parks and gardens It attracts more than 8 million visitors each year. \n\n\nHeadhouse & Auditorium\nThe two major buildings on the Navy Pier, Headhouse and Auditorium - both designed by the architect Charles Summer Frost and constructed in 1916 - have survived its ups and downs.\n\nThe most western building, a brick and terra cotta building with two prominent towers is the Navy Pier Headhouse. The name was derived from the area, which at the time was known as the Headlands. Each tower housed a huge 2-million liter tank for the fire sprinkler system. The Headhouse is now home to Chicago's children museum. At the western side of the building is the recent 19acre Gateway Park, featuring a modern, computerized granite fountain with 240 jets.\n\nAt the other end of the pier is the Auditorium, also known as the Hall. This beautiful building with a magnificent Grand Ballroom measures 138 ft by 150 ft (42m x 48m) and has a 100ft (30m) high half-domed ceiling.\n\n\nAttractions\nThe Navy Pier is home to many attractions, some may vary depending on the season. For a comprehensive list, prices and schedules have a look at Navy Pier's own website: www.navypier.com. Here's an overview of attractions found at the pier:\n\n- The most eye-catching is the 148 ft Ferris Wheel. It was modeled after the first ferris wheel built for the 1893 World Columbian Exposition.\n\n- Near the Ferris Wheel is a 44ft high musical carousel with 36 hand-painted animals.\n\n- The skyline stage, a 100ft high vaulted roof structure, is used as an ice skating rink during wintertime and as a 1500-seat theater during summer.\n\n- The Navy Pier features two museums: the Children's museum (www.chichildrensmuseum.org) and the Smith museum of Stained Glass Windows, which opened in 2000.\n\n- A 7 story Shakespeare theater complex with a 525 seat theater is another recent addition to the Navy Pier.\n\n- Other attractions are an 18 hole miniature golf course, a funhouse maze, a 40ft high wave swinger and an IMAX theater.\n\n- The Navy Pier is also a starting point for many boat trips. You have ample choice: You can take a trip on a 148ft high, four-masted schooner
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I'll say Bremerton Naval Station which is adjacent to Puget Sound Naval Shipyard.\n\nOr the shipyard itself.
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I don't know a book off the top of my head other than general NYC history, so you could try these:\n\nGotham : A History of New York City to 1898 by Edwin G. Burrows and Mike Wallace\n\nThe Epic of New York City : A Narrative History by Edward Robb Ellis \n\nThere is this book, but I don't know it:\nThe Bronx (Columbia History of Urban Life) Evelyn Gonzalez\n\nBoth Columbia University and Lehman College might serve as good resources. Columbia has all sorts of info and documents pertaining to NYC. Go to the Columbia NYC Guide page and there are tons of resources there (link below). I don't know of any specific resources at Lehman, but call the library. The school is located in the Bronx and CUNY is a pretty good institution when it comes to New Yorkness. I'm sure they have some archive or the librarians are Bronx geniuses or something. I would give them a call. The homepage is listed below as well.
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Probably New York in 1845.  Boston makes the claim but it is disputed.  Check policeguide.com for pictures of the 1st NY and Boston police badges.  They have a search box on every page and you can search New York badges.  Hope this helps.
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check out:\nhttp://www.mainehistory.org/edu_facts.shtml
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www.pier.co.uk\nIt is part of a chain
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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pearl_Harbor
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try this http://www.maxmon.com/history.htm
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The Wharf by the Docks by Florence Warden\n\nor\n\nBARROW, John. Navigatio Britannica: Or a Complete System of Navigation\n\n\nNot really sure
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http://www.stlouisblues.com/history/history.html
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Ellis Island, Lots of info, here is some to get you started, good luck.\n\nEllis Island, at the mouth of the Hudson River in New York Harbor, was at one time the main immigration port for immigrants entering the United States in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.\n\nThe federal immigration station opened on January 1, 1892 and was closed in November 1954 but not before processing more than 12 million immigrants. Previously immigrants were processed at Castle Clinton. Only about 2 percent were denied admission to the U.S. and sent back to their countries of origin for reasons such as chronic disease, criminal background, or insanity [1]. Immigrants were examined by both doctors and questioned by government officials. Many who were allowed entry settled in New York and northern New Jersey for at least their first few years in America. During this time period, Angel Island ( between Alcatraz and the Pacific Ocean), California in San Francisco Bay served a similar purpose on the West Coast, processing mostly Chinese immigrants.\n\n \nEllis Island immigrants as depicted in a USPS stampEllis Island was the first stop for most immigrants from Europe. There, they were processed before they could enter the United States. First, they had to pass a physical examination. Those with serious health problems or diseases were sent home or were held in the island's hospital facilities for long periods of time. Next, they were asked a series of questions, including name, occupation, work experience, and the amount of money they carried with them. Generally, those immigrants who were approved spent from hours up to a day at the island. However, more than three thousand would-be immigrants died on Ellis Island while being held in the hospital facilities. Some unskilled workers and infirm migrants were rejected outright because they were considered "likely to become a public charge."\n\nAfter 1924, Ellis Island was only used for detainees and refugees. Ordinary immigrants were processed through other facilities.\nAs with all historic areas administered by the National Park Service, Ellis Island National Monument, along with Statue of Liberty National Monument, was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on October 15, 1966.
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I cant verify this, but i "heard" that it originated because a polish ship designer had a plan to build ships quicker and cheaper and stronger using concrete. now this was a good idea(ww2 time frame), because ships could just be poured from a mold, and we needed a lot of ships quickly. Well anyway, the people using his design made some form of error and the ship sank, and everyone, not understanding the guys theories, just said "of course it sank, concrete doesnt float" and he was a "dumb polack". again, i cant verify that, it was a story one of my elementary teachers told me.
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It was and still is my absolute favorite place to visit: the Museum of Science and Industry, Chicago.\nFrom the U-boat, to the train display (and Burlington Zephyr). to the stairwell with the anatomical sections and the four-stories tall pendulum showing the motion of the earth.\nThis place ROCKS!\nMy earliest memory was back in the 1960's as the old style news teletype hacked away news reports from around the world.\nThat got me interested in going into the news business.\nThe Egyptian mummy display was a scary place as a kid, but still a lot of fun to visit.\nAnd just the overall SIZE of this place...it was fun just to hang out, outside.
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Navy was established in 1775 by an act of the Continental Congress.\n\nThe Coast Guard in 1790
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Click the link below, then click Bolsa de Madrid on the left side of the page. Then, click History. You will be given a history presentation you can click through. You will probably find what you're looking for there.\n\nTake care!
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The oak came from islands off the coast of Georgia.\nThe masts came from Unity, Maine.\nThe pine decking came from South Carolina.\nThe keel was provided by New Jersey\nPaul Revere (of Boston) provided the spikes and copper sheathing.
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go to the Navy Pier!  They've everything you'd want.