4. Castle Clinton National Monument, Manhattan
Castle Clinton is a prime example of successful adaptive reuse in New York City. Since it was originally constructed as Fort Clinton in 1811, the structure has evolved with the changing city around it. Its original purpose was to defend from British invasion in 1812, and in 1855 it became the nation’s first federal immigration station, processing over 8 million people. It has also served as a beer garden, theater, and public aquarium.
Today, Castle Clinton serves as the National Park Service (NPS) ticket office for the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. More than 3 million visitors pass through annually. The preservation project being awarded has carefully restored the fort’s historic brownstone walls, fortifying the Castle for generations to come.