New York is one of the world’s busiest and most dynamic cities, considered a global center for art, finance, and media, but that wasn't always the case. Initially a 17th-century Dutch settlement, and then a British colony, New York was a port town whose evolution over 200 years owes much to the immigrant energy that fueled it. The city's distinct boroughs, neighborhoods, and landmarks have since become the stuff of legend: from the Statue of Liberty, beacon of hope for millions of immigrants, to Broadway, the heart of American theater, to the iconic brownstones of Brooklyn and the gleaming skyscrapers gracing Manhattan's skyline. Experience The Big Apple's fast-paced energy with Context's New York private hiking tours and New York small group tours.