Straddling Chambers Street, which runs across the top of City Hall Park, the Municipal Building stands like an oversized chest of drawers. Built betweven 1907 and 1914, the building was architects McKim, Mead and White's first skyscraper. Atop it, an extraagant pile of columns and pinnacles signals a friolous conclusion to a no-nonsense building that houses public records; below, though not apparent, subway cars travel through its foundation.

To walk across the Brooklyn Bridge, take the footpath that emerges in the middle of Centre Street just in front of the Municipal Building; it should take about 45 minutes to reach the Brooklyn side.

At 100 Centre St, the 1939 Art Deco Criminal Courts Building, reminiscent of a Babylonian temple, houses the Manhattan Detention Center of Men, which is nicknamed "the Tombs," after the funereal Egyptian-style building that once stood across the street. Where "the Tombs" used to be, the White Street Correctional Facility houses up to 500 maximum-security inmates, and the "bridge of sighs" towering over White Street connects the two facilities. All courts are open to the public (Mon-Fri 9am-5pm), yet the Criminal Courts are your best bet for viewing the ponderous New York City justice system in action.

City Hall and TriBeCa / Municipal Building / TriBeCa / Exploring TriBeCa / Woolworth building

New York
guide, hotels

New York City
Highlights
When to go
Arrial
Transportation
Walking
Eating and drinking
KIDS:
  Kids New York
  Kids actiities
  Kids toys, clothing
  Kids cultural actiities
The Giuliani years
September 11, 2001
World Trade Center
Best of New York
Gays and Lesbian
G & L accommodation
G & L bars
G & L Clubs
Media
N Y tours: bus/copter
N Y tours: water/walking
Free museums hours
Staten Island ferry
Parades andFestivals
Shops and markets
Clothes, fashion
Diamond District
Food and drink
Liquor stores
Music
Music-special interest
Art galleries
 

New York
guide, hotels, airfares

 New York hotels
 New York hotels 2
 New York hotels 3

Cruises
Car rental

Exploring New York
42nd Street and around
Central Park
Chelsea
Chinatown
City Hall and TriBeCa
Eastvillage
Fifth Aenue & around
Financial District
Garment District
Harlem and N Manhattan
Little Italy and NoLita
Lower East Side
Metropolitan Museum of Art
Midtown East
Park Aenue (Midtown)
United Nations
Midtown West
Murray Hill
Outer boroughs
Bronx
Brooklyn Heights
Quevens
SoHo
Statue of Liberty & Ellis Is
Union Sq & Gramercy Park
Upper E side
Upper W side
Walking Tours
Westvillage