Governors Island

Governors Island is a 172 acre (696,000 m²) island in Upper New York Bay, approximately one half mile from the southern tip of Manhattan, of which it is legally a part, in New York City. It is separated from Brooklyn by the Buttermilk Channel. From 1776 to 1996, first as a United States Army post, and then after 1966 through 1997 as a United States Coast Guard base, the installations on the island protected the United States. The island's name dates back to 1698, when New York was a British colony and the colonial assembly reserved the island for the exclusive use of New York?s royal governors.

Related Topics:
Acre - Upper New York Bay - Manhattan - New York City - Brooklyn - Buttermilk Channel - 1776 - 1996 - United States Army - 1966 - 1997 - United States Coast Guard - United States - 1698 - New York - Colony

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

In 2001, the two historic fortifications and their surroundings became a national monument. On January 31, 2003, control of most of the island was transferred to the State of New York, but the 22 acre (89,000 m²) Governors Island National Monument was transferred to the U.S. Department of the Interior and is now managed by the National Park Service. As a new national monument, Governors Island is not fully operational and is open on a seasonal basis, so services and facilities are extremely limited.

Related Topics:
2001 - January 31 - 2003 - New York

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The 150 acre (607,000 m²) portion of the island that is not included in the National Monument is administered by the Governors Island Preservation and Education Corporation (GIPEC), a public corporation of the State of New York.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

On June 12, 2004 the island was reopened to the public for the summer. It is accessible by ferry from South Ferry at the southern tip of Manhattan.

Related Topics:
June 12 - 2004 - Ferry - South Ferry

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The Brooklyn-Battery Tunnel passes under, but provides no access to the island. A ventilation building is located on the northern end of the island. At one point, a bridge was proposed, whose base would have been located on Governors Island. However, due to concerns of the views between Brooklyn and Lower Manhattan, the project became a tunnel.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~