In 1524 explorer Giovanni da Verrazzano anchors in the area now spanned by the bridge bearing his name where he was met by a welcoming canoe party of Lenape Native Americans. Things did not go well for the Lenape.
In 1609 Henry Hudson arrives and sails across the harbor to explore several miles of the river that now bears his name. He sails for ten days up river, reaching roughly where Albany is located today. By 1611 his crew would mutiny and set Hudson, his son and a few others adrift, never to be heard from again. I hate when that happens.
In 1624 the first permanent European settlement by the Dutch was started on Governor’s Island and eight years later in Brooklyn. The first harbor ferry was launched to link the two settlements. To this day neither NYC nor NYS has any idea what to do with this prime piece of island real estate.
In 1648 Peter Stuyvesant, director of the Governor’s Island settlement, completed construction of the first Manhattan wharf near what is now Pearl and Broad Streets. The South Street Seaport is located just north of that first-ever Manhattan pier. The area between Pearl and Broad downhill to the current coastline is composed of artificial fill. Don't ask.
Within another hundred years by about 1750, the settlers would begin planning their revolution (1775-1783) to secure our independence from England and a constitutional right to grill, drink and party on the Fourth of July.
