Cunard White Star Pier/Pier 54 — Attraction in New York

I have walked down the Empire State Trail SO many times, without realizing the historical significance of Pier 54 and the Cunard White Star association to this area of New York City. This area is absolutely fascinating, and it's a MUST-VISIT if you are venturing down the West Side Highway of Manhattan in New York City! :-)

Per the website Atlantic Liners, there is an extensive and incredible history associated with Pier 54. They write, "Today, when one ventures down the West Side of Lower Manhattan, at the foot of 14th Street and near all the commotion of the West Side Highway, there may not seem to be any immediate connection to the great Atlantic Liners of yesterday. However, this was where all of the major Cunard and White Star liners of the late 1800s and early 1900s docked. Pier 54, across from West 13th and 14th Streets, was just one of a series of piers which lined lower west side of Manhattan on the Hudson (“North”) River. At the time of the Lusitania‘s maiden voyage in 1907, only a slab stretching into the North River existed; however, the inadequacies of working without a proper docking facility became manifest quickly. In response to the growing size of the Atlantic liners, the city of New York began to construct the piers that would become famous."

Also of note, "Many historic and emotional events played out at this pier. For example, in 1912, this was where the Cunarder Carpathia landed all 7121 of the Titanic‘s survivors. Three years later, this was the pier from which the great Lusitania departed on her last and ill-fated voyage."

Yes, you read that correctly. The survivors of the Titanic landed here, at Pier 54, in 1912! There are markers along this portion of the pier that outline the significance of this area in relation to the Titanic's devastating, and stunning, history. Again, you absolutely must check this out when you're in Manhattan - it's an incredible...

As a lover of New York history, I'm always thrilled to see new reminders of what has come before. The latest thing(s) I've fallen in love with are these two painting-under-plexiglass panels they must have recently put up outside Little Island on the railings and behind the old Cunard cast iron pier entrance. They show the Titanic and Carpathia (which brought Titanic's survivors to New York) and the Lusitania, which sailed from Pier 54 (which the Titanic was supposed to have docked with had her voyage ended successfully). There are two round, explanatory cast iron (?) plates, one in front of each of the painted panels, and embedded in the sidewalk/walkway esplanade. See...

As someone who read lots of books and watched documentaries on the Titanic, it’s very interesting to be at the place the Carpathia came into port with the survivors from that tragedy. They have a little mural on the Titanic and Carpathia and Lusitania. They also have the original posts cut off so you can see where the original pier was.

Just a few blocks south is the Jane Hotel where the survivors stayed. It’s an actual hotel so not a tourist destination unless you sleep there but another interesting...