(New York) - The Museums of Lower Manhattan, a recently-formed collective of 15 museums and historic sites located in Lower Manhattan South of Houston Street, has announced a new campaign to increase awareness of the area's incredibly rich and diverse cultural offerings. The collective, which was made possible through a grant from Lower Manhattan Development Corporation, is launching an extensive advertising, marketing and public relations campaign aimed at increasing awareness of and visits to the 15 museums.

New York Governor George E. Pataki said, "Lower Manhattan has a rich history, and these cultural institutions educate and inspire thousands of visitors each year. This initiative will bring more people to the area, to the museums, and to the unique shops. I commend the member institutions for working together to re-energize the arts and culture community downtown."

Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg said, "The arts can and must play a pivotal role in strengthening our City's spirit, our economy, and our quality of life. Cultural institutions will serve as a beacon of creativity and innovation as we plan Lower Manhattan's future. This campaign will drive vital pedestrian traffic to the downtown area which offers the benefit of a vast array of restaurants, stores and the other amenities downtown has to offer residents, workers and visitors alike."

"Visitors to New York may be surprised to know that Lower Manhattan has a wide variety of fascinating museums and cultural sites, all within walking distance of one another," said LMDC President Kevin M. Rampe. "With thousands of tourists coming downtown each year , we'd encourage visitors to stop by the 15 neighboring institutions which form one of the most unique and concentrated collections of museums in the world. "Each of these museums tells a unique, original story that helps one personally engage in his or her own history, the history of America and even discover what it has meant to be an American throughout the years."

The Museums of Lower Manhattan provide a wide variety of lenses through which visitors can get a better understanding of American heritage. Institutions like the Ellis Island Immigration Museum, the Museum of Jewish Heritage - A Living Memorial to the Holocaust, The Museum of the Chinese in the Americas and the Tenement Museum bring to life our nation's immigrant stories. The Statue of Liberty National Monument and Federal Hall National Memorial-site of the first Congress of the thirteen United States-stand as distinguished and uniquely American symbols of freedom. The indigenous cultures of America are on display at the National Museum of the American Indian, and our nation's modern era is boldly depicted at the newly opened Skyscraper Museum.

Located South of Houston Street, the Museums of Lower Manhattan capture the essence of New York's first neighborhood by chronicling a wide range of cultural aspects of American life. Visitors can tailor an itinerary to their interests and comfortably walk between any of the museums. The Museums of Lower Manhattan draw comparisons to the Museum Mile on Fifth Avenue for the density, diversity and authenticity of exhibits, programming and activities.

The participating institutions in the Museums of Lower Manhattan collective are Museum of Jewish Heritage - A Living Memorial to the Holocaust; the Skyscraper Museum; Statue of Liberty National Monument and Ellis Island Immigration Museum; Castle Clinton National Monument; National Museum of the American Indian; Museum of American Finance, Fraunces Tavern® Museum; the New York City Police Museum; Federal Hall National Memorial; South Street Seaport Museum; Museum of Chinese in Americas; Eldridge Street Project; Lower East Side Tenement Museum; the New York City Fire Museum; and St. Paul's Chapel.

For more information on the museums, including their locations, directions, exhibits and programming please visit our website, www.nystartshere.org.