Governors Island

National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior Governors Island National Monument New York Island fired some of the first shots of the Battle of Brooklyn. The British prevailed and held New York for the duration of the Revolutionary War, but the experience steeled the resolve of the young nation to protect its major ports and lifelines of commerce. With the Manhattan skyline in the background, the U.S. Army's 16th Infantry Regiment in formation on the Fort Jay parade ground, August 1936. History Governors Island was one of the longest continuously active military posts in the United States. Since the late t8th century, the island has served as a major army headquarters and later as the largest Coast Guard base in the nation. Its military role ended in 1996 after over 200 years of service. New York Harbor's abundant waters and lands first attracted Native American Indian peoples like the Lenape. Dutch settlers in 1624 took advantage of the diverse ecosystem and established maritime enterprises. In 1793, one of the first initiatives of a The British noted the harbor's young United States government was strategic potential and by threat of force, secured it for the crown in 1664. to fortify the nation's port cities. By the War of 1812, six forts in New York In 1776, General George Washington's Harbor—at Liberty Island, Ellis Island, Battery Park and Governors Island— colonial army made a valiant attempt to fend off the British capture of New proved an effective deterrent to the British Navy. York. Patriot cannons on Governors The story begins with the construction of Fort Jay and Castle Williams, which were part of the network of forts built to defend New York Harbor during the War of 1812. While the fortifications on Governors Island were stateof-the-art at the time, advances in weapons technology rendered them obsolete by the 1830s. Their survival as two of the best preserved coastal forts of their day was due to the continuous presence of the military and the important role the island played over two centuries in protecting this nation. Upon their obsolescence, the forts found new life. Confederate prisoners crowded into Castle Williams during the Civil War. In the 20th century, the Castle was part of the U.S. Army prison system. Fort Jay was eventually converted from solider barracks into family housing. successful flight over water. In 1909, Wilbur Wright took off from the island's dusty parade ground and flew around the Statue of Liberty. Over time, this early airstrip would serve as an airfield, polo ground, and 60 building warehouse complex. The island's heritage also includes the accounts of soldiers who temporarily called the island home before being deployed to faraway battlegrounds like Mexico in 1846 and the Normandy beachheads during World War II. The military legacy of Governors Island lies not only in the island's structures, but also in the stories of those who worked to promote the security and values of our nation. One such individual was Secretary of War Elihu Root, who directed the enlarging of the island by 100 acres in 1901. However, Root also recognized the historic significance of Fort Jay and Castle Williams and saved them from army generals who wanted them demolished. At the end of its military career, Governors Island returns to service for public enjoyment and discovery. In 2001 Governors Island National Monument was established to preserve Fort Jay, Castle Williams, and the setting for over two centuries of military life. When the forts around the harbor became obsolete, they were converted to other non-military uses. But in 1878, Governors Island, once considered a remote urban outpost, became the army's headquarters for the eastern United States, and, in 1933, home for the First U.S. Army. As New York City gained in international importance, so did the prestige of a posting to Governors Island. For army officers, it was recognition of accomplishment and a test of leadership that often led to more senior commands in Washington, D.C. Soldiers stationed here enjoyed social, political, and business connections in the city rivaled by few other Army posts in the nation. On June 30,1966, the Army left the island and the U.S. Coast Guard established the headquarters for Atlantic Area Command and its largest base in the nation. For 30 years, the Coast Guard staff and their families enjoyed the same sense of community and military prestige as their predecessors—a touch of small town life in America's largest city. E LL' N: o >5 Q Tf, Jr. Q © © c S ID Q) 2L OJ o ! — Governors Island preserves the stories of personal achievements such as the first 01 OJ m — o < _ O O © 2 E OJ < 5 © Colonel Jonathan Williams designed and constructed the defenses in New York Harbor: Fort Jay and Castle Williams on Governors Island, Fort Wood on Bedloe's Island (now the base for the Statue of Liberty), Fort Gibson on Ellis Island, and Castle Clinton at the Battery. During the summer season, park rangers offer guided tours, living history programs and talks about the island's heritage and its importance in American history. during the summer and early fall months. Dates, hours of operation, and special events are announced each About the National Monument Governors Island National Monument spring. The island is accessible by ferry from the Battery Maritime is a new national park area that is still Building at South and Whitehall under development. Visitor access, tour schedules, ferry departure points, streets in Lower Manhattan. Private and ferry service are subject to change boats are not permitted to dock at the island. as the park evolves. Planning Your Visit Q_ Built in 1843, the Commanding Officer's residence was home to the island's highest ranking officer. In December1988, President Ronald Reagan and Soviet Premier Mikhail Gorbachev held their final meeting here as heads of state, an important milestone near the end of the Cold War. Visual and performing arts on Governors Island provide new and exciting perspectives on the historic forts and their surroundings. The Federal-style sandstone entrance gate is Fort Jay's most prominent feature. Begun in 1794 and revamped by Colonel Williams, the fort serves as a reminder of our nation's early harbor and coastal defense efforts. Hours and Transportation The national monument is currently open Friday, Saturday and Sunday Things to Do The 22-acre national monument includes the historic fortifications of With the assistance of reenactors and living historians, the sights and sounds of Governors Island's army heritage comes alive several weekends each summer. Castle Williams and Fort Jay. In summer, there are opportunities to explore the fortifications and the national historic landmark district through park ranger programs or a self-guiding walking tour. While there are food vendors on the island, services and facilities are limited. More Information Governors Island National Monument is one of over 390 parks in the National Park System. The National Park Service cares for these special places saved by the American people so that all may experience our heritage. To learn more about national parks and National Park Service programs in America's communities, visit www.nps.gov. Governors Island National Monument 10 South St-Slip 7 New York, NY 10004-1900 212-825-3045 www.nps.gov/gois Fort Jay Castle Williams At the time of its construction in 1807, Castle Williams represented the state of the art in fortification design. Its designer, American-born Jonathan Williams, studied fort design from French military engineering books during his stay in France during the American Revolution. The gatehouse is the oldest structure on Governors Island. The sandstone sculpture was started in the 1790s when the fort was built by the State of New York, but without wings and flags and not completed until afterl 904. Fort Jay occupies the highest point on Governors Island and here during the American Revolution, General George Washington ordered earthen mounds and cannons placed to protect New York City from a British naval attack. The British eventually captured the city in September 1776 and occupied it until 1783, using the island as a military hospital. The earthworks were rebuilt in the 1790s when there was a threat of war with France. The gatehouse and the eagle sculpture on top may date back to that time, possibly making it one of the oldest outdoor public sculptures in the United States. In 1807, the earthen fort was replaced with the granite and brick you see today. The last important change to the fort was during the 1830s with the construction of the brick barracks. During the Civil War, officers of the Confederate Army were held at Fort Jay as prisoners of war. Lieutenant Alonzo Bell of North Carolina recorded in his diary that the accommodations were cramped as he shared an upstairs room with 14 other officers in Barracks 214a. The conditions were better than those his soldiers experienced as they were held at Castle Williams. The barracks housed soldiers and officers until they were remodeled into sixteen townhouse style apartments for young officers and their families in the 1930s. The last families to live here left when the U.S. Coast Guard closed their Governors Island base in 1996. The castle is the first fort of its kind in the United States. Its circular walls helped deflect cannon balls and its 8-foot thick walls had reinforced brick arches to prevent collapse if damaged in combat. But their most important function was in supporting four levels of cannons, an engineering feat never quite perfected in Europe and a pioneering design that influenced every American coastal fortification built afterwards. In April 1812, Williams tested his design when he asked the U.S. Navy to fire upon the castle. He stood inside as two ships fired seven shots at 400 yards, closer than point blank range. Two shots caused small dents in the walls and minor damage to a cannon. When fully armed, the castle was an imposing sentinel and a significant factor as to why the British Navy did not invade New York Harbor during the War of 1812. By the 1830s, the castle was less useful in protecting the harbor, so the Army repurposed it as a barracks for new recruits. In 1862, during the Civil War, it became a temporary holding facility for Confederate soldiers as prisoners of war who shared their cells with the very same cannons that protected New York Harbor 50 years earlier. In the 1890s Castle Williams was converted into a modern military prison, employing the most current techniques in prisoner rehabilitation. It continued as a disciplinary barracks until 1965. During the Coast Guard era, the castle was a community activities center and the island's groundskeeping shop. Today, the courtyard is open to the public with plans to eventually also open the roof to the public. The remainder of the structure is currently closed, awaiting the removal hazardous materials. Governors Island contains several distinct "neighborhoods" that each had a distinctive design and purpose. Nolan Park or historically known as "The Park" or "Generals' Row" has the oldest residential housing on the island. The older structures on the east side of the "park" housed officers of Fort Jay prior to the Civil War. Houses on the west side of the park were quarters for generals and colonels serving as senior staff when Governors Island became a major headquarters in 1878. In 1902, Quarters 20 in Nolan Park was a senior officer's residence and largest single family house on the island. It became a duplex in the 1930s. The Arsenal District was the New York Arsenal from 1832 to 1920. The sturdy brick structures were constructed by the Ordinance Department, a branch of the Army that needed durable industrial buildings. The Arsenal contained storehouses, small shops and a residence for its commanding officer. Colonels' Row or historically known as "Regimental Row" or "Brick Row" was officers' housing constructed between 1893 and 1917. When the regimental barracks, Liggett Hall, was completed in 1930, the houses were quarters for officers of the 16th Infantry Regiment, stationed on the island from 1922 until 1940. In the 1950s, it was home to mostly colonels of the U.S. First Army headquarters staff. Governors Island Buildings Index The Governors Island National Historic Landmark District was established in 1985 to recognize the importance of the structures and landscapes to the history of the United States. Most of the district is owned by the Governors Island Preservation and Education Corporation. The National Monument is administered by the National Park Service. Both are open to the public during the summer season. Structures on the south end of the island (not shown here) are not historic and are being removed to establish a new park on the island. 10, 14-18. Officer Quarters, Victorian Vernacular (1878) 11. Officer Quarters (generals), Victorian Vernacular (1878) 13. The Chapel of St. Cornelius the Centurion, NeoGothic(1905) 19. Officer Quarters, Victorian Vernacular (1891) 20. Officers Quarters (senior general), Victorian Vernacular (1902) 25. Former offices, Army headquarters and Fort Jay storehouse. Utilitarian (1811) Governors Island National Monument 107. Former Arsenal Storehouse #4, Utilitarian (1858) 200. Fort Jay, Fortification (1809) 201. Fort Jay Gatehouse, Federal style (1794) 202. Fort Jay Barracks, Greek Revival (1830s) (also 206, 210, 214)501. Castle Williams, Fortification (1811) South Battery Neighborhood 12. Non-commissioned Officers Family Quarters, 99-unit Neo-Georgian (1931) 40. Jewish Chapel, Vernacular (1918) 298. South Battery Fortification/Officer's Club, Greek Revival (1812/1840s) 301. Old PS 26 elementary school, Neo-Georgian (1934) 315. Family Quarters, 18-unit Neo-Georgian (1940) 324. YMCA, Neo-Georgian (1926) 330. Movie Theater (750 seat), Neo-Georgian (1939) New York Arsenal District 104. Former New York Arsenal Storehouse #1, (1850) 105. Former arsenal office (1853) 107. Former arsenal storehouse #4 (1858) 108. George C. Marshall Hall, Neo-Georgian (1945) 109. Arsenal Storehouse, Utilitarian (1918) 110. Arsenal Storehouse #5, Romanesque Revival Buildings are listed by number, a distinctive (1879) name if one exists, former uses, the 125. John J. Pershing Hall, U.S. First Army command Liggett Hall / Colonels' Row Neighborhood headquarters, Neo-Georgian (1934) architectural style and the year of 333. Women Army Corps Barracks, Neo-Georgian 130. Former arsenal fire engine house and storage (1940) construction. Utilitarian (1843) 400. Liggett Hall, regimental barracks, Neo-Georgian 135. Front—former Arsenal commanders house. Rear- -(1929) Nolan Park Neighborhood Arsenal storehouse #3, Greek Revival/Utilitarian (1839) 403. Officer Quarters (colonel, general). Craftsman 1. Commanding Officer's Quarters, Greek Revival 140. Former Arsenal Storehouse and Army/Coast (1906) (1843) 404. Officer Quarters, Romanesque Revival (1905) 2. Governor's House (senior officer quarters), Georgian Guard offices, current NPS Bookstore, Romanesque Revival (1875) 405-408. Officer Quarters, Romanesque Revival (1893 (1813) -1894) 3. Officer Quarters / former quartermaster storehouse, 1930s-era Apartments 409. Officer Quarters, Romanesque Revival (1910) Utilitarian (1846) 111-112. Officer Family Quarters, 12-unit Neo410. Officer Quarters, Modified Arts & Crafts (1917) 4-8. Officer Quarters, Italianate Vernacular (1851Georgian (1934) 515. Fort Jay Hospital, Greek Revival (1935) 1878) 114. Nurses Quarters, 12-unit Neo-Georgian (1934) 550. Regimental offices—future New York Harbor 9. Block House, former hospital, Army headquarters, School, Neo-Georgian (1940) and unmarried officers quarters, Greek Revival (1839) 555. Family Quarters, 10-unit Neo-Georgian (1940)