Description
Governors Island is an island of 70 hectares in New York Harbor, a short ferry ride from Lower Manhattan and Brooklyn: old forts, lawns, hammocks and wide views of the skyline. For two centuries it was a military base, and it opened to the public only in 2005.
Fort Jay, a five-pointed star fort, sits on the island's highest natural point, and Castle Williams, a round sandstone battery, once held Confederate prisoners. To the south, The Hills are man-made hills up to about 21 meters high: from the top of Outlook Hill the view takes in Lower Manhattan and the harbor.
The Dutch landed here in 1624 and called it Noten Eylandt, "nut island", for its chestnut, hickory and oak trees. Its southern half is newer: Army engineers built it with the earth dug out for the city's first subway line, which gave the island the shape of an ice cream cone.
Fort Jay, a five-pointed star fort, sits on the island's highest natural point, and Castle Williams, a round sandstone battery, once held Confederate prisoners. To the south, The Hills are man-made hills up to about 21 meters high: from the top of Outlook Hill the view takes in Lower Manhattan and the harbor.
The Dutch landed here in 1624 and called it Noten Eylandt, "nut island", for its chestnut, hickory and oak trees. Its southern half is newer: Army engineers built it with the earth dug out for the city's first subway line, which gave the island the shape of an ice cream cone.