Governors Island

Governors Island is a 172-acre island in Upper New York Bay, half a mile from the southern tip of Manhattan Island, and is considered a part of the borough of Manhattan in New York City. Governors Island is separated from Brooklyn by the Buttermilk Channel. Land reclamation has expanded its size by approximately 82 acres (33 ha) when the Lexington Avenue subway was excavated in the early 1900s.

Governors Island, view of Manhattan
Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:GovernorsIsland_behnke_crop.jpg
Author: Fbehnke


Governors Island was originally called Noten Eylant by Dutch explorer Adriaen Block from 1611 to 1784. Then, From 1783 to 1966, it was a United States Army post. From 1966 to 1996 the island served as a major United States Coast Guard installation. The present name of the island stems from British colonial times when the colonial assembly reserved the island for the exclusive use of New York's royal governors.

There are two forts on Governors Island, namely Fort Jay and Castle Williams. These heritage structures were made a national monument in 2001. The Brooklyn-Battery Tunnel passes underwater and off Governors Island. Governors Island is accessible only by a free ferry from the turn-of-the-century-era Battery Maritime Building at South and Whitehall Streets at the southern tip of Manhattan.

The Governors Island National Monument> was proclaimed by President Bill Clinton on 19 January, 2001 and concluded by President George W Bush.

Ligget Hall, part of the barracks of the US Army on Governors Island, New York
Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Liggett_Hall_jeh.jpg
Author: Jim.henderson

Getting there

Take the Governors Island Ferry from the Battery Maritime Building. There are also guided tours at 10:00 am and 1:00 pm seasonally.

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