New York City is one of the busiest cities in the world. The central city is visited by so many tourists on a constant basis coming from all over the world to see and explore the Big Apple. New York City is home to so many things and has had such a long and interesting history that as a visitor, you have so many choices in what to do when you visit. The quintessential New York City experience like to go to the top of the Empire State Building or taking the ferry to see the statue of liberty are typical things to do but there’s always the little things that people tend to miss. Although Charging Bull is not exactly a secret, it is an interesting part of New York City that sometimes gets overlooked. If you’re traveling to New York on a budget consider dropping by. It’s free, it’s popular and it is even controversial by some standards. It represents many things for many people and has been featured in media across the world so go grab the bull by the horns yourself on your next trip to New York City. Here is a guide to Charging Bull, New York City.
Things to do / highlights
At the beginning of the 20th century the financial center of the world was arguably in London but after two world wars and recession, and the years of economic prosperity the United States had afterward in the years following the war, the financial center of the world soon shifted to Wall Street. The giant bull stands on Broadway Street north of the public park, Bowling Green. The bull is a symbol of American prosperity and aggressive financial prosperity according to the artist Arturo Di Modica. Di Modica is an Italian sculptor and artist who built the bull after arriving in America penniless. He built the bull at a foundry in Brooklyn, and in the cover of night, it was loaded into a truck and brought to Manhattan where it was dumped in front of the New York Stock exchange. Charging Bull quickly made the news and Di Modica himself stood outside where the bull was handing out flyers, explaining the project. Eventually, the police came and impounded the bull on the very same day. After some protest by the people who loved the sculpture, the city of New York decided to permanently place it where it currently resides at Bowling Green on the intersection of Morris St and Broadway.
See the statue
The bronze 11-ft tall (3.4 m) and 16-ft long (4.9 m) bull became a hit when it was installed at Bowling Green and quickly became a tourist spot in the financial district. The statue became one of the biggest cultural attractions and one of the most photographed statues in the city. There is not very much to do when visiting the bull except just admire the bull and take pictures with it.
Find your luck
Chances are when you do visit, you’ll have to wait your turn as there are countless streams of people that visit it daily, from all over the world. If you’re looking for the full experience New York City tour guides recommend rubbing the nose, the horns and the testicles for good luck.
Travelers tips
Best time to visit
The bull is pretty popular so if you’re trying to get a good view of it or get up close to it without having to deal with a large crowd of tourists, consider visiting either during the early morning hours or later at night. During higher tourist seasons, there will obviously be more people lingering around but visiting during the winter months will provide you with an opportunity to see the bull in a different setting with likely fewer people around it.
Free admission
The bull is a great tourist attraction for the traveler on a budget as just seeing is free. Unlike many other tourist attractions in New York City, you won’t have to pay a dime to see this iconic New York landmark.
How to get there
By Subway
New York City has the benefit of being one of the best cities in the country for public transportation. If you’re looking to visit the Charging Bull getting there by subway is the best way to do it. Take the 4, 5 or 6 train and get off at Bowling Green station or take the 1 train to South Ferry and walk for a few minutes.
By Bus
Although the method is a little slower than taking the subway, visitors who wish to visit the bull can get there by bus as well. The M5 bus goes all the way from the George Washington Bridge to Bowling Green. This method is a little slower, but it is scenic so enjoy the ride and feel like you’re on a tour of the city.
Charging Bull Information
Charging Bull
Address: New York, NY 10004, United States
Opening hours: 24-hours (daily)
Cost: Free
Official website: Charging Bull
Department of tourism: Visit New York
News & Updates for Charging Bull: Planning on moving iconic Charging Bull from Bowling Green
History
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