July 24, 2006
GOVERNORS ISLAND
A few weeks ago, I took a trip to Governors Island. From the few people I've mentioned it to, a surprising number of NYers don't even know the island exists, which is amazing, since the island sits only a few hundred yards south of the southern tip of Manhattan.
Before NYC was even New Amsterdam, Governors Island was settled by the Dutch in 1637. They later moved to the larger island to the north, now Manhattan. The small island became a military installation in 1800 to protect NY's harbor from military incursions by the British. It nearly doubled in size during the 20th Century as it was augmented with landfill from the excavation of of the East Side subway. There was even once an airfield on the southern side the island.
After being decommissioned as a military base, Governors Island served as a Coast Guard post before being sold to NY State for $1 in 1997. It is now landmarked as a National Monument.
Governors Island is a metropolitan gem--an oasis of history, tranquility, and stunning harbor views that is ridiculously undervisited. One can take a ferry trip out there on the weekends for free and, I have to say, it is one of the best daytrips available in the city. A large number of photos are available at my flckr site here.
Tagged:Posted by Lexiphane at July 24, 2006 6:45 PM
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