Monday, April 28, 2014

One World Trade Center--The Freedom Tower





I woke up with this fabulous view not long ago, in March!  I was in a hotel in downtown New York City, accompanying my husband on a business trip. We were scheduled to land in the late afternoon, but our flight was delayed eight hours because of mechanical problems with our plane, and by the time we finally arrived in Manhattan and checked in, it was dark outside our room.  To pull back the curtains in the morning to see this view of the new One World Trade Center was such an exciting surprise!


As you can see in this closeup photo of One World Trade Center, the outside construction elevator is still in use, and there is still some construction going on.  The 104 story building, stands a symbolic 1,776 feet in its entirety and is the tallest building in the Western Hemisphere and will feature a grand lobby and observation deck with unparalleled views.  As of now, the building has been pre-leased 55% to future tenants.


A closeup of the 408-foot spire on top! Be sure to click on this photo, as well as others in this post to enlarge them to see all the detail.


A close up of the construction elevator and a window washer outside the building.


A view at street level, from Vesey Street.



I loved this photo, that includes the spire of St. Paul's Chapel. It earned the title "The Little Church That Stood" after 9-11. You can see more about it and read its story on a post I wrote on this link.


The tower is easily seen from many different areas of downtown Manhattan, and northern Brooklyn. It is an imposing sight on the New York City skyline. Will it win the hearts of New Yorkers, and visitors to the city, as the prior Twin Towers did?


That remains to be seen, but to me, it definitely is a beacon of hope and rebuilding after the tragic events of 9-11.  

To read a very inspiring story about the rebuilding of One World Trade Center, and to see a fantastic panoramic photo of the city taken from one of the rings of the spire, check out this article in Time Magazine at this link.



I also visited New York City again last week, so between these two trips back to my hometown I have much to share in future posts. Join me next time as I'll show you a fun Faberge Easter Egg Hunt that happened all over Manhattan before the Easter holiday. The Egg Hunt culminated at Rockefeller Center in Manhattan when I was in NY this last trip, and I took lots of photos. You'll be amazed by how differently giant eggs can be decorated by various artists and designers!

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32 comments:

Anonymous said...

Great shots of the tower!

diane b said...

It has won my heart. It is a beautiful building and has such a courageous background. It is great to see it almost complete it was just rising out of the ground when we visited the site in 2011.

Barb said...

Pat - I couldn't be that window washer! You took great shots of the tower. I like its modern look. I'm in the desert, enjoying some warmth. I hear it's windy in Denver.

Massimo said...

thank you very much for sharing... I really hope to be able to spend a week in NY this summer...
we all love it... saluti

Ola said...

It must have been great to come back there!

Daniela said...

It 'so nice to see the contrast between old and new buildings in New York, I think it's what makes this wonderful metropolis charming in the eyes of anyone looking at it !
Thank you for these so beautiful photographs, my dear friend,
fondly xoxox
Dany

Lynn said...

Very exciting indeed! A beautiful building:@)

eileeninmd said...

PAT, what a wonderful view from your room..The Tower is beautiful, it would be awesome to see it finished.. Lovely photos, thanks for sharing your trip! Enjoy your week!

From Beyond My Kitchen Window said...

What a gorgeous skyscraper. I'm sure the neighborhood is thrilled to have such a beautiful building again. It must have been exciting to visit your old stomping ground!

La Petite Gallery said...

It really is breathtaking. I so well
remember that day and the Priest, from the little St Paul's church.
Were you close to Delmonico's?
Getting home it must be culture
shock. Glad you had a great trip.
yvonne

From the Kitchen said...

I think it's well done and impressive!

Best,
Bonnie

Anonymous said...

Thank you for the link to the Time Magazine photo! How wonderful it is to see the city from this perspective atop the Freedom Tower!

Beverly said...

Reading this and seeing your amazing photos fills my heart with emotion. We have come so far as a country since 9/11, and we have so much to give us pride.

Typepad finally has my blog functioning properly again. I have breathed a big sigh of relief.

Vee said...

Now that would be thrilling to draw back the curtains and see that view! Sounds as if you have enjoyed some fun times back in your old hometown. I'll be dragging John back to see your splendid photos.

Cheryl @ TFD said...

What a beautiful view from your hotel window! I really enjoyed reading the article at the Times site. Nothing can ever replace what was lost, especially those precious lives, but this building is an amazing feat and it must be thrilling for New York as well as the whole country to see it nearly completed! I'm in awe of those who worked on this project, particularly the iron workers. They have to have nerves of steel. I do like the sort of exclamation point at the top of the structure. It really makes a statement!

Jackie McGuinness said...

We were there in September. Now I want to go again!!
Great photos!

Betsy Banks Adams said...

Even though the entire 9/11 tragedy broke all of our hearts, I do LOVE seeing the new Freedom Tower. SO gorgeous... Can't imagine being in NYC and sitting in a hotel look out of the window at that... WOW!!!! Awesome. So glad you got to go back with your Sweetie.

Hugs,
Betsy

Pamela Gordon said...

It is a beautiful building and you got some great photos of it! I sure wouldn't want to be the window washer or even working on the outside elevator. I'm so afraid of heights that I don't think I'd even go to the top of the building. You must have enjoyed going back home for a visit and I'll look forward to your posts about it. Pam

Donna said...

Oh, Pat, it was so much fun to see your post from your favorite city! I enlarged many of your photos and they are fabulous! I could NEVER be one of those window washers in the scaffolding hanging outside the building. Oh my gosh, I think I got dizzy just looking at that photo!

You're so blessed to have your spare bedrooms set up for the grandkids!

Have a beautiful week!
Donna

podso said...

So you got to experience a little spring in NYC! Thanks for sharing your lovely window view and all the good photos and details of the new building. I look forward to seeing it someday!

Betty said...

You're so fortunate to be able to go back often. It's a beautiful building, but I would never want to go inside. Of course, I never went in the old World Trade Center. I'm not crazy about going up that high in an elevator. I love flying into Newark when the plane lands on a runway adjacent to the Hudson River. It's so exciting to see the skyline and the Statue Of Liberty.

Lorrie said...

What an inspiring sight to awaken to. It's a beautiful symbol of hope and resilience.

Proud Italian Cook said...

Such beautiful shots Pat from your old stomping grounds, you had the perfect view!

Ida said...

It's an amazing looking building for sure.

Ciao Chow Linda said...

It has amazed me to see the building go up and look so majestic after all the initial disputes about design and funding. I'm happy you got to visit your native city a couple of times recently and look forward to seeing your photos of the "eggs."

Judy said...

I like that...'a beacon of hope'! How fun for you to return to NYC.

AdriBarr said...

Wow - what a glorious building!

La Petite Gallery said...

Hey just to remind you the Derby is on at 5 PM. I am betting on Wicked Strong. Have a great Day yvonne

Welshcakes Limoncello said...

It's wonderful and what a view to wake up to!

Pondside said...

Pat, I'm so happy for you to have this opportunity to visit your 'hometown'.
The tower is amazing. I like the shape very much! Imagine washing all those windows!

Anonymous said...

It was less developed when I saw it last year in january and I remember the little Church in front. Thanks for reminding me of that.

Unknown said...

The 1-WTC is truly a marvelous feat of architecture and technology. Being the tallest structure in the Western hemisphere and forefront of the sustainable construction movement are just two of the accolades endowed to it. It's also our nation's modern symbol of ingenuity and fortitude. Most of all, it acts as a beautiful memorial to immortalize the heroes of the 9/11 tragedy. Anyway, I just love looking at the sleek mirrored glass, every time I'm in NYC. Thank you so much for sharing the powerful pictures. I hope everyone's having a great summer!
Melba Collins @ Vermeulens