Rangers give tours of Governors Island on Wednesdays and Thursdays. Governors Island is open every Friday-Sunday and all holiday Mondays from now through September 25. But did you know that you can have special weekday access to the Island on Wednesdays and Thursdays? On these days, you can take a “Hike Through the National [...]
Filed under: History | Tagged: National Park Service | 4 Comments »
Oldies But Goodies As the 2010 season on Governors Island draws to a close, it is fun to look back at all the events and activities that this summer brought. While on the Island, have you ever paused to wonder how it would have been to spend a day recreating on Governors Island 100 years ago? [...]
Filed under: Governors Island 101, History, Things people do in parks | Tagged: Figment, governors island, history, play, polo | 2 Comments »
Governors Island visit is cheaper than in 1794 & other transportation tidbits Yup, that’s right. A trip to Governors Island now costs you $.00, that’s $.03 less than you would have been charged in 1794 for a trip in a rowboat to help Governor Clinton construct the Island’s fortifications. Factoring in inflation, the fact that [...]
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Thanks McKim. Thanks Mead. Thanks White In the late 1870s a trio of architects joined together to form the firm McKim, Mead and White. The influences on their work were many but they had a taste for order and grandeur and were involved in a number of prominent urban design schemes as well as buildings. The [...]
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Governors Island: Shape shifter Map of New York Harbor circa 1835. The familiar ice cream cone shape of the island has yet to emerge. The current and future island have much to offer; 2.2 mile promenade with harbor views, a green for picnicking, lounging and swinging while gazing at the Statue of Liberty, and a [...]
Filed under: Governors Island 101, History, Park and Public Space Master Plan | Tagged: governors island, history, New York City, New York Harbor, park, picnic point | 1 Comment »
Image: Library of Congress During the Great Depression, the Works Progress Administration (WPA) was created to provide jobs for the country’s masses of unemployed. Part of this initiative was the Federal Arts Program (FAP), giving employment to countless artists and craftspeople. Many Governors Island buildings were updated or expanded as part of the WPA [...]
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Gateway to Governors Island Many GI visitors come to visit via Pier 6 in Brooklyn. This approach allows you to cavort in the new Brooklyn Bridge Park, Pier 6 playground. But for those of you arriving from Manhattan, your trip affords the opportunity to see one of Manhattan’s architectural gems. The Battery Maritime Building [...]
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Sneak Peak Photos: Library of Congress Everyone likes a peek behind closed doors. Here on Governors Island, we have increased the opportunities to see inside our historic buildings every year. This year, you can get a look inside many of the charming yellow wood frame houses of Nolan Park and the red brick Colonel’s [...]
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Photo Courtesy of NPS In the mid 1800s it was not standard practice for the Army to construct churches on their bases. However, the chaplain for the Island, Columbia College Episcopal Reverend, John M. McVickar, was a tireless advocate for building a chapel and with funds from his family and friends and from Trinity parish, [...]
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The South Battery: The Island’s other fort Photo Courtesy of Matthew Jensen, LMCC artist in residence One of the Island’s most evolving buildings, the South Battery or Half Moon Battery was constructed prior to 1812 to serve as a key component of the harbor defense system along with Fort Jay and Castle Williams. Only [...]
Filed under: Governors Island 101, History | Tagged: architecture, governors island, history | 1 Comment »
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