Pier 57

Pier 57 stands as a feat of engineering because it is essentially a massive concrete ship permanently moored in the Hudson River. Rather than resting on traditional wooden or steel pilings, the entire structure is supported by three giant, hollow concrete boxes called caissons. These boxes were constructed in a pond near Haverstraw, New York, and then floated down the river to this spot. They are so buoyant that they support nearly the entire weight of the pier, acting as a functional, watertight basement beneath the waterline. This design was so unconventional and durable that it earned the nickname the Superpier upon its completion in 1954.