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Governors Island

  • 121 acres N of Division Rd: Governors Island National Monument

  • Vicinity: Half mi S of Manhattan, accessible only by ferry
  • Type: Island
  • Travel Genus: Sight
  • Sight Category: Historic District

A Silent Sentinel in New York Harbor

From 1794 to 1966, the U.S. Army on Governors Island was part of the social, political, and economic tapestry of New York City. Today the island is vibrant summer seasonal venue of art, culture and performance against the backdrop of two centuries of military heritage and the skyline of one of the great cities of the world. - NPS


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PLACES

Name of Notable Genus AsNotedIn Address Proximity
Name Genus AsNotedIn Address Proximity
Fort Jay
  • Sight
  • NRHP
Admiral's House
  • Sight
  • NRHP
The Block House
  • Sight
  • NRHP
Castle Williams
  • Sight
  • NRHP
Governor's House
  • Sight
  • NRHP

Timeline

Y/M/D Person Association Description Composition Food Event
Y/M/D Person Association Description Composition Food Event
1624/05/00 Dutch West India Company Sponsor Thirty families, under the command of Cornelius Jacobsen May, arrive from the Dutch Republic on the ship "New Netherland" and settle on Governors Island. Settling the American Colonies
1776/09/06 David Bushnell Naval Architect Sergeant Ezra Lee, in David Bushnell's one-man submarine, Turtle, unsuccessfully tries to attach mines to Admiral Richard Howe's flagship, HMS Eagle, anchored near Governors Island Invention of the Submarine
1842/00/00 Samuel F B Morse Inventor Samuel Morse test his telegraph between Manhattan's Battery Park and Governors Island. Invention of the Telegraph
1909/09/26 Wilbur Wright Inventor During the Hudson-Fulton Celebration, Wilbur Wright takes off from Governors Island, circles the Statue of Liberty and lands back on Governors. Hudson-Fulton Celebration
1909/10/04 Wilbur Wright Inventor During the Hudson-Fulton Celebration, Wilbur Wright makes a 33 minute flight from Governors Island, up the Hudson River to Grant's Tomb and back Governors Island. Hudson-Fulton Celebration
1910/05/29 New York Times Publisher Glenn Curtiss takes off from Rensselaer Island in Albany and flies a biplane 150 miles down the Hudson River to Governors Island, winning a $10,000 prize sponsored by Joseph Pulitzer. New York Times fills 6 pages of text and photos reporting on the win.
1910/05/29 Glenn Hammond Curtiss Aviator Glenn Curtiss takes off from Rensselaer Island in Albany and flies a biplane 150 miles down the Hudson River to Governors Island, winning a $10,000 prize sponsored by Joseph Pulitzer. New York Times fills 6 pages of text and photos reporting on the win.
1910/05/29 Joseph Pulitzer Sponsor Glenn Curtiss takes off from Rensselaer Island in Albany and flies a biplane 150 miles down the Hudson River to Governors Island, winning a $10,000 prize sponsored by Joseph Pulitzer. New York Times fills 6 pages of text and photos reporting on the win.
1912/00/00 US Army Corps of Engineers Engineer 4,787,000 cubic yards of excavated material (3,660,000 m3) of from the IRT Lexington Ave Line is deposited on the south side of Governors Island, adding 103 acres (42 ha).
1912/00/00 Elihu Root Secretary of War 4,787,000 cubic yards of excavated material (3,660,000 m3) of from the IRT Lexington Ave Line is deposited on the south side of Governors Island, adding 103 acres (42 ha).
1917/05/28 John J Pershing Military General John J Pershing departs Governors Island to take command of the American Expeditionary Force in France.

Data »

Particulars for Governors Island:
Architectural Style American Colonial Revival
Area of Significance Architecture
Criteria Architecture-Engineering
Historic Use Arms storage
Criteria Exemplar
Owner Federal
Architectural Style Greek Revival
Sight Category Historic District
Physiographic feature Island
Historic Use Military Facility
Level of Significance National
Area of Significance Politics-government



US National Registry of Historic Places Data »

Accurate at time of registration: 4th February 1985

PLACE DETAILS
Registry Name: Governors Island
Registry Address: Governors Island
Registry Number: 85002435
Resource Type: District
Owner: Federal
Architect: US Army
Architectural Style: Colonial revival, Greek revival
Area in Acres: 121
Contributing Buildings: 58
Non-Contributing Buildings: 39
Contributing Sites: 1
Non-Contributing Structures: 7
Other Certification: Designated National Landmark
Certification: Listed in the National Register
Nominator Name: National Historic Landmark
CULTURAL DETAILS
Level of Significance: National
Area of Significance: Politics-government, Architecture
Applicable Criteria: Event, Architecture-Engineering
Period of Significance: 1900-1924, 1875-1899, 1850-1874, 1800-1824, 1750-1799, 1825-1849, 1925-1949
Significant Year: 1794, 1815, 1933
Historic Function: Defense
Historic Sub-Function: Military facility, Arms storage
Current Function: Defense
Current Sub-Function: Military facility Coast Guard facility

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