The Island in New York Harbor That the Army Kept Off-Limits for 200 Years

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Two miles from the tip of Manhattan, there’s a 172-acre island that most New Yorkers have never visited. For two centuries, it was federal property — sealed off, guarded, and invisible to the city growing up around it. New York only got it back in 2003. The price? One dollar.

A Harbor Island Before the City Existed

The Lenape people called it Pagganck — “Nut Island” — for its abundant hickory trees. Dutch settlers arrived in the 1630s and used it as grazing land for their livestock.

When the British took control, they made it the official residence of their colonial governors. That’s how the name stuck.

After the American Revolution, the U.S. Army took possession and began building in earnest. Two massive fortifications were constructed in the early 1800s: Fort Jay, a star-shaped fortification completed in 1796, and Castle Williams, a circular sandstone fortress completed in 1811. Neither was ever seriously attacked.

Two Centuries Behind a Fence

From the Civil War through the Cold War, Governors Island was one of the most active military installations on the East Coast. Thousands of soldiers and their families lived here at any given time — housing blocks, a school, a bowling alley, a golf course. An entire small city, cut off from the one surrounding it.

Castle Williams served as a prison for Confederate officers during the Civil War. The Army transferred operations to the Coast Guard in 1966. The Coast Guard left entirely in 1996, and the island went quiet.

For seven years, it sat empty in the harbor — visible from the Staten Island Ferry, belonging to no one in particular. Then in 2003, the federal government transferred it to New York City and New York State for one dollar.

What You Find When You Finally Go

The ferry departs from the Battery Maritime Building at the southern tip of Manhattan. The crossing takes eight minutes. When you step off, the noise of the city disappears entirely.

There are no cars on the island. No skyscrapers visible from the interior. People arrive on bikes or on foot, and the pace shifts immediately. On summer weekends, hammock groves are strung between trees, food trucks line the paths, and an artisan market fills the historic parade ground.

The open lawns give the island a strange, generous feeling — like the city finally exhaled. It’s one of the most affordable experiences in New York City, with admission to the island itself completely free.

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Hills With Views That Don’t Exist Anywhere Else

In 2010, workers used rubble from demolished island buildings to create four rolling hills. The largest rises about 70 feet — modest by most standards, but extraordinary given what surrounds it.

From Outlook Hill on a clear day, you can see the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, the Brooklyn Bridge, lower Manhattan, and the New Jersey Palisades — all at once. It’s the kind of panorama that takes a moment to process.

There’s no extra admission to visit the hills. Blankets and bikes are the standard equipment. Bring both.

The Forts That Time Forgot

Castle Williams is a near-perfect circle of sandstone, three stories high, with walls eight feet thick. Fort Jay is star-shaped, designed for cannon fire in every direction. Both were built by engineers who feared naval invasion that never came.

Both forts still stand today, in remarkable condition — preserved without anyone intending to preserve them, simply because the island was sealed off for so long. They’re open for self-guided tours throughout the summer season.

Standing inside Castle Williams, with its three tiers of arched windows and circular courtyard, it’s easy to forget you’re eight minutes from Wall Street.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you get to Governors Island in New York?

The Governors Island ferry departs from the Battery Maritime Building at 10 Whitehall Street in Lower Manhattan. It runs from late April through October, with additional departures from Brooklyn Bridge Park. The round-trip fare is $4 for most visitors; NYC residents ride free on weekday mornings from late May through mid-June.

Is Governors Island worth visiting?

Absolutely. Between the harbor views, historic forts, rolling hills, and car-free atmosphere, Governors Island offers something that simply doesn’t exist anywhere else in New York City. It’s less crowded than virtually every other major NYC attraction and genuinely easy to spend a full afternoon on.

What is the best time to visit Governors Island?

Weekday mornings in May, June, or September are ideal — cooler temperatures, smaller crowds, and the full landscape to yourself. Summer weekends bring festivals and events but also larger visitor numbers. The island is closed from November through April, which makes the open season feel even more special.

What can you do on Governors Island?

Cycling, picnicking, touring the historic forts, visiting rotating art installations, eating at food trucks and the seasonal beer garden, and hiking the hills for panoramic views. Bike rentals are available on the island. Regular summer programming includes outdoor cinema, yoga, and cultural festivals.

Governors Island spent two centuries being kept from the city that grew up around it. Now it’s open — seasonal, car-free, and just eight minutes by ferry — and most New Yorkers still haven’t made the trip. That feels like a small, ongoing city secret. Which is exactly the right kind to hold onto.

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