Just across the Harlem River from Manhattan, the Bronx is
New York City's northernmost borough. It's known for its rich, vibrant
history and culture—the birthplace of influential music genres, a mosaic of ethnicities, and the neighborhood of legends. In the Bronx, you can catch a fly ball from a future baseball Hall of Famer, take a stroll down a well-preserved Little Italy, or say hello to lemurs at the zoo.
The Bronx is named after Dutch sea captain Jonas Bronk, who settled in the area in the 1600s. The borough was largely rural until rapid growth began in the early twentieth century when European immigrants rushed into the area, attracted by parks and public space. After having gone through rough times in the 1970s, the area has seen a resurgence in the past few decades, helped by a strong community made up of several
ethnic cultures.
The Bronx has some of New York's most loved institutions. Located on over 264 acres, the world-famous
Bronx Zoo is the largest urban zoo in the country. See animals in realistic recreations of their habitats, from the African Plains to Siberian forests. The
New York Botanical Garden is a 250-acre living museum with wrought-iron greenhouses and over 50 curated gardens.
Walk along the Bronx's historic thoroughfare, the Grand Concourse, where you'll find surviving Art Deco buildings and beautiful
architecture from many periods. Stop by the
Bronx Museum and be impressed by its art collection of both local and international artists. Hip-hop and Rap were born in the Bronx, and Latino
music also has strong roots here. Catch salsa, breakdancing and classical music performances at the
Lehman Center for the Performing Arts.
During baseball season, no trip to the Bronx can be complete without a catching a game at
Yankee Stadium. While the House that Babe Ruth Built was replaced by a newer stadium, little has changed with the Yankees's winning tradition.
Pelham Bay Park is the city's largest park. Within its 2,700 acres is the Bartow Pell Mansion, a nineteenth-century Greek Revival home from the borough's idyllic past. Head over the bridge to the
City Island Nautical Museum, to learn more about the area's seafaring tradition. Sample some seafood while you're there.