How To Doodle A Cities of Wonder Map
STEP #1 — JOT DOWN A LIST OF YOUR FAVORITE NYC LANDMARKS
Below includes a list of our top ten sites to see in the Big Apple! You may not have space on your map to include too many handwritten notes; however, researching interesting facts about your favorite sites in New York may turn out to be a separate fun project in itself.
1. STATUE OF LIBERTY
There are 354 steps in the Statue of Liberty.
2. EMPIRE STATE BUILDING
The Empire State Building is struck by lightning on average 100 times per year.
3. CHRYSLER BUILDING
One of the most interesting facts about the Chrysler Building is that is has not earned the city of New York a single dollar in tax since its opening. Why? The land is actually owned by the "Cooper Union" and represents an endowment for the college. Because of a special law that dates back to 1859, the building's owner pays the Cooper Union directly, not the city. Learn more.
4. TIMES SQUARE
Times Square NYC draws nearly 50 million visitors per yer! That's the most of any US attraction. Although we have to say this: if 60 million people go to New York City each year, that means 10 million of them manage to visit the city and somehow not visit Times Square. Learn more.
5. NATIONAL SEPTEMBER 11 MEMORIAL & MUSEUM
Almost the entire National September 11 Memorial & Museum is underground. It is truly an institution within an artifact, as it is located seven stories below ground level in the archeological remnants of the original World Trade Center site.
6. CENTRAL PARK
Central Park contains seven man-made lakes and ponds. The park has over 9,000 benches, which would stretch seven miles if placed end to end. There are 51 sculptures, 36 bridges and arches, 7 ornamental fountains and 125 drinking fountains.
7. ST. PATRICK'S CATHEDRAL
St. Patrick's Cathedral was named after St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland, in response to the increasing number of Irish immigrants residing in the city.
8. ROCKEFELLER CENTER
The land in which Rockefeller Center is built upon was bought for just $5,000 (what would equate to nearly $100,000 in today's currency). In the early 19th Century, the land that now houses the Rockefeller Center was actually a rural area, as it was considered to be about 3.5 miles (5.6 km) outside of the city limits.
9. MUSEUM OF MODERN ART (MoMA)
Sketching is allowed in the galleries with pencils only — and parents are asked to hold pencils for children when moving throughout the galleries.
10. BROOKLYN BRIDGE
Before the construction of the Brooklyn Bridge, Brooklyn was actually not considered to be part of New York. The total length of the bridge is 5,989 feet. The total width of the bridge is 85 feet, and the height above mean water is 276.5 feet.
STEP #2 — REFERENCING A DIGITAL MAP OF NEW YORK, LOOSELY PLOT OUT LOCATIONS OF YOUR FAVORITE LANDMARKS
No need to be perfect in your plotting, but sketching out an erasable grid and using an "x" to plot the locations of your landmarks on your paper are great starting points.
STEP #3 — DOODLE IN YOUR BEST LANDMARK ILLUSTRATIONS
Start with illustrating the place you want to visit first when you arrive to New York City, and continue to doodle until you have replaced every "x" on your plot with a beautiful drawing that represents each top spot that you have selected.
Our Top Spots in NYC
STEP #4 — WRITE IN YOUR TITLES
Label each of your chosen landmarks in your own handwriting, and don't forget to add the name of your city to your page in big, bold letters!
Labeling Our Landmarks + Adding Our NYC Title
STEP #5 — DOODLE IN ILLUSTRATIONS OF ICONIC FEATURES
Pick out the icons that best represent your ideas of New York City life (food, music, etc.) and doodle them onto the page using your imagination.
We love NYC's famous pizza and watching the city cabs cruise by!
STEP #6 — FINISH UP YOUR NYC MAP BY SKETCHING IN YOUR STREETS
Using the digital map from Step #2 as your reference, draw in the roads of NYC, connecting each landmark as you doodle.
Taking in all of the sites, as we travel each block of NYC.
Jaq Jaq Bird's