New to New York City? Excellent. 

There's plenty for you to do and see here, starting with One World Trade Observatory, the Statue of Liberty, and the Brooklyn Bridge. Obviously. 

If you've perused even the most elementary of tourist guides, we're probably telling you something you already knew.

But maybe you've lived here for years, and there are still things about the landmarks you don't know.

So if you like knowing things about this glorious city that you live in, read on. 

We've compiled some of the craziest facts about NYC's landmarks, and we have a feeling they'll blow your mind.

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1. America's first pizzeria was opened in NYC in 1905

The pizzeria has been acknowledged by the Pizza Hall of Fame as America's first pizzeria. 

It was originally located at 53 1/2 Spring Street, which closed in 1984, only to be opened ten years later a block away by Gennaro Lombardi's grandson, Gennaro Lombardi III, and his childhood friend John Brescio.

When Lombardi started serving pizza in a grocery store in 1897, he sold tomato pies wrapped in paper and tied with a string. Today, you can still consume this family's delicious pizza, located at 32 Spring Street.

So when people tell you that NYC makes better pizza than anywhere else... believe them. This place proves it. 

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2. The Empire State Building was the tallest building in the world for 41 years

It was referred to as "the eighth world wonder" after it took one year and 45 years to build in 1931. It remained the world's most towering building until 1972, when the World Trade Center stretched past it.

Today, the Empire State Building is the 28th tallest building in the world, and the Burj Khalifa in Dubai holds the coveted title of world's tallest building.

But, at least One World Trade Center, NYC's current tallest building, is the fourth tallest building in the world. (432 Park Avenue is the 16th tallest building in the world, in case you were wondering).

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3. The Statue of Liberty was shipped in from France in 350 pieces

Its full name is Liberty Enlightening the World, and was best known as being the beacon of hope visible to NYC's immigrants of decades past. 

Less widely known is that the statue was a gift from France in 1886 to celebrate our victory in the American Revolution.

The statue holds a tablet that is inscribed with the date of the American Declaration of Independence (July 4th, 1776). Its crown's seven spikes represent the seven oceans and the seven continents of the world, indicating universal liberty.

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4. There's a bomb shelter inside the Brooklyn Bridge

That's right, during the Cold War era of the '50s and '60s, a bomb shelter was built inside the Brooklyn Bridge. No one knew about it until it was discovered during a routine inspection in 2006.

So, if the nuclear apocalypse does ever come, at least we'll have lots of water to live off in the Brooklyn Bridge's bomb shelter. 

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5. One World Trade Center is 1,776 feet tall

Which is a direct correlation to the year the Declaration of Independence was signed. 

These aren't the only meaningful measurements that make up the building. The tower's observation deck begins at 1,362 feet, and a glass parapet stretches to 1,368 feet, which were the exact heights of the South and North towers, respectively.

It's also extremely safe. It was made with 49,000 cubic yards of concrete, which is enough to pave more than 200 miles of NYC sidewalks. This concrete is extremely strong, and is built to withstand seven times more pressure than standard concrete.

It was also built with an extra staircase for first responders.

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6. The Rockefeller Tree's star is worth $1.5 million

In 1931, tin cans and scrap paper were used to decorate the Rockefeller tree. Which was fitting since it was during the time of the Great Depression.

In 2009, though, the star made a huge upgrade from its 90s gold-leaf star. The star that was unveiled in 2009 was 550 pounds, ten-feet tall, and worth $1.5 million. It's made of 25,000 crystals and one million facets.

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7. The Chrysler Building exists because of the 1911 fire that burned Dreamland to the ground

After Dreamland, an amusement park that operated in Coney Island from 1904 to 1911, smoldered to ashes, William Reynolds decided he needed a new project.

So, he decided to enter the race to build the tallest building in the world, and hired architect William Van Alen to design the Chrysler building.

Though Walter Chrysler paid for the $2 million project after Reynolds defaulted on the lease, Chrysler never actually paid Van Alen. He believed Van Alen was working with contractors on financial arrangements, and refused to be a part of it.

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8. Wall Street is believed to have been named after a Dutch wall to protect the area from the British

That's right, the Dutch used to reign in NYC, but back then they called it "New Amsterdam." 

Wall Street was originally named "de Waal Straat," and was also used as defense to keep the British at bay.

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9. The Verrazano-Narrows Bridge is the longest suspensed bridge in the Americas

The length of its central span is 4,260 feet-- the length of four football fields. It weighs 1.2 million tons and was the heaviest bridge in the world when it was built in 1964. 

Three men died from falling during the bridge's construction, which resulted in a four-day strike where construction workers demanded safety nets. The safety nets were provided, and saved the lives of three more workers who also fell.

The construction workers were not invited to the bridge's opening, and instead attended a mass for the three men who died during construction.

Check out #MindBlown: 10 Crazy Quick Facts You Probably Didn't Know About NYC. 

[via New York Wallpapers HD]