Gateways to New York: Bridges, Infrastructure, and the Legacy of Othmar Ammann

This special version of our Around Manhattan: Bridges, Infrastructure, and the Evolving City tour will focus on the work of Swiss-American structural engineer Othmar H. Ammann, who emigrated to New York in 1904 and redefined the art of bridge building in America. Ammann designed more than half of the eleven bridges that connect New York City to the rest of the United States. In addition to his seminal George Washington Bridge, Ammann’s most important projects in New York include the Bayonne Bridge, the Triborough Bridge, the Bronx Whitestone Bridge, the Throgs Neck Bridge and the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge.

This tour is held in partnership with Architecture & Design Film Festival, who will be screening the new documentary film Gateways to New York by director Martin Witz, chronicling the adventurous saga of Ammann, who moved to America as a young engineer, creating modern icons in New York with his visionary suspension bridges. Witz will be on board…

The Architecture & Design Film Festival (ADFF), held this year from October 16-20 in NYC, celebrates the unique creative spirit that drives architecture and design. With a curated selection of films, events and panel discussions, ADFF creates an opportunity to entertain, engage and educate all types of people who are excited about architecture and design.

Key points about this tour:

  • 2.75 Hours Long
  • $86 per person
  • Our highest rated tour!
  • Offered aboard Manhattan or Manhattan II (1920s inspired yachts)
  • A spin off of our most popular tour, that takes a deeper look into NYC’s infrastructure & architecture
  • Fully Circumnavigates the Island of Manhattan
  • Hosted & narrated by a member of the American Institute of Architects with commentary from the film’s director
  • Includes complimentary hors d’oeuvres and a coffee, soda, juice, beer, wine or champagne
  • Indoor climate-controlled seating and outdoor seating available

Step aboard the luxurious yacht Manhattan or Manhattan II for a full round-Manhattan cruise that takes an in-depth look at the engineering marvels of New York City’s fantastic, historic and wildly different bridges, tunnels, infrastructure and mass transit feats! Tour includes content on city planning, Robert Moses, housing and architecture as well!

John Kriskiewicz, professor of Architecture and City Planning at Parsons and FIT, hosts this American Institute of Architects (AIANY) accredited tour.

Being low to the water and designed for comfort and small groups, guests are sure to have excellent views and photo opportunities. There is room for all in our elegantly appointed, cushioned and climate-controlled observatory, or guests may enjoy the outer teak decks when weather permits.

On this 2.75 hour cruise, you are treated to a complimentary beverage from the bar and light hors d’ oeuvres. Additional beverages may be purchased at the bar by credit card only.


Highlights along the way typically include:

  • Battery Park, South Street Seaport and the Financial District
  • Governor’s Island, The Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island
  • High Bridge: as the city’s oldest bridge, she was completed in 1842 to carry the Croton Aqueduct into Manhattan.
  • 7 swing bridges, 3 lift bridges and 4 arch bridges that span the Harlem River
  • Roosevelt Island, the United Nations Building, and the famous Williamsburg, Manhattan and Brooklyn Bridges of the East River
  • The Upper West Side and the majestic George Washington Bridge

What Is Not Included?

  • Gratuity is not included unless you purchased the ‘Groups of 12 or more’ ticket type where a 15% gratuity is automatically applied. If you do end up obtaining 12 or more individual tickets by separate purchases, you will be contacted to make an advance payment of a 15% Group Gratuity.
  • Guarantee of a full circumnavigation of Manhattan is not included. On rare occasions, the Spuyten Duyvil train bridge is inoperable and cannot open for us to pass through. This is often times not known until our tour is underway. There are no refunds for tours that cannot fully circumnavigate. We will accommodate such cases with a tour that features a double backing of the route and further detail of the waterfront sites.

Meeting Location

Chelsea Piers (Pier 62) – W. 22nd and Hudson River (Manhattan, NY)
(Exact meeting location details will be provided immediately upon purchase of tickets.)











When: Sat., Oct. 19, 2019 at All Day

This special version of our Around Manhattan: Bridges, Infrastructure, and the Evolving City tour will focus on the work of Swiss-American structural engineer Othmar H. Ammann, who emigrated to New York in 1904 and redefined the art of bridge building in America. Ammann designed more than half of the eleven bridges that connect New York City to the rest of the United States. In addition to his seminal George Washington Bridge, Ammann’s most important projects in New York include the Bayonne Bridge, the Triborough Bridge, the Bronx Whitestone Bridge, the Throgs Neck Bridge and the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge.

This tour is held in partnership with Architecture & Design Film Festival, who will be screening the new documentary film Gateways to New York by director Martin Witz, chronicling the adventurous saga of Ammann, who moved to America as a young engineer, creating modern icons in New York with his visionary suspension bridges. Witz will be on board…

The Architecture & Design Film Festival (ADFF), held this year from October 16-20 in NYC, celebrates the unique creative spirit that drives architecture and design. With a curated selection of films, events and panel discussions, ADFF creates an opportunity to entertain, engage and educate all types of people who are excited about architecture and design.

Key points about this tour:

  • 2.75 Hours Long
  • $86 per person
  • Our highest rated tour!
  • Offered aboard Manhattan or Manhattan II (1920s inspired yachts)
  • A spin off of our most popular tour, that takes a deeper look into NYC’s infrastructure & architecture
  • Fully Circumnavigates the Island of Manhattan
  • Hosted & narrated by a member of the American Institute of Architects with commentary from the film’s director
  • Includes complimentary hors d’oeuvres and a coffee, soda, juice, beer, wine or champagne
  • Indoor climate-controlled seating and outdoor seating available

Step aboard the luxurious yacht Manhattan or Manhattan II for a full round-Manhattan cruise that takes an in-depth look at the engineering marvels of New York City’s fantastic, historic and wildly different bridges, tunnels, infrastructure and mass transit feats! Tour includes content on city planning, Robert Moses, housing and architecture as well!

John Kriskiewicz, professor of Architecture and City Planning at Parsons and FIT, hosts this American Institute of Architects (AIANY) accredited tour.

Being low to the water and designed for comfort and small groups, guests are sure to have excellent views and photo opportunities. There is room for all in our elegantly appointed, cushioned and climate-controlled observatory, or guests may enjoy the outer teak decks when weather permits.

On this 2.75 hour cruise, you are treated to a complimentary beverage from the bar and light hors d’ oeuvres. Additional beverages may be purchased at the bar by credit card only.


Highlights along the way typically include:

  • Battery Park, South Street Seaport and the Financial District
  • Governor’s Island, The Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island
  • High Bridge: as the city’s oldest bridge, she was completed in 1842 to carry the Croton Aqueduct into Manhattan.
  • 7 swing bridges, 3 lift bridges and 4 arch bridges that span the Harlem River
  • Roosevelt Island, the United Nations Building, and the famous Williamsburg, Manhattan and Brooklyn Bridges of the East River
  • The Upper West Side and the majestic George Washington Bridge

What Is Not Included?

  • Gratuity is not included unless you purchased the ‘Groups of 12 or more’ ticket type where a 15% gratuity is automatically applied. If you do end up obtaining 12 or more individual tickets by separate purchases, you will be contacted to make an advance payment of a 15% Group Gratuity.
  • Guarantee of a full circumnavigation of Manhattan is not included. On rare occasions, the Spuyten Duyvil train bridge is inoperable and cannot open for us to pass through. This is often times not known until our tour is underway. There are no refunds for tours that cannot fully circumnavigate. We will accommodate such cases with a tour that features a double backing of the route and further detail of the waterfront sites.

Meeting Location

Chelsea Piers (Pier 62) – W. 22nd and Hudson River (Manhattan, NY)
(Exact meeting location details will be provided immediately upon purchase of tickets.)

Buy tickets/get more info now