Governors Island
Governors Island is a 172-acre (70 ha) island in New York Harbor, within the New York City borough of Manhattan. It is located approximately 800 yards (730 m) south of Manhattan Island, and is separated from Brooklyn to the east by the 400-yard-wide (370 m) Buttermilk Channel. The National Park Service administers a small portion of the north end of the island as the Governors Island National Monument, including two former military fortifications named Fort Jay and Castle Williams. The Trust for Governors Island operates the remaining 150 acres (61 ha), including 52 historic buildings, as a public park. About 103 acres (42 ha) of the land area is fill, added in the early 1900s to the south of the original island.
For other uses, see Governors Island (disambiguation).
Paggank
Noten Eylandt
Nutten Island
Noten Eylandt
Nutten Island
- "Paggank" and "Noten Eylandt" from nut trees
- "Governors Island" from New York colonial governors
172 acres (70 ha)
70 ft (21 m)
Outlook Hill
10004
New York City, New York, U.S.
172 acres (70 ha)
800,000 (2018)
06101.019189
1946
February 4, 1985[4]
February 4, 1985[5]
January 19, 2001[6]
February 4, 1985[2]
June 18, 1996[3]
The native Lenape originally referred to Governors Island as Paggank ("nut island") because of the area's rich collection of chestnut, hickory, and oak trees; it is believed that this space was originally used for seasonal foraging and hunting. The name was translated into the Dutch Noten Eylandt, then Anglicized into Nutten Island, before being renamed Governor's Island by the late 18th century. The island's use as a military installation dates to 1776, during the American Revolutionary War, when Continental Army troops raised defensive works on the island. From 1783 to 1966, the island was a United States Army post, serving mainly as a training ground for troops, though it also served as a strategic defense point during wartime. The island then served as a major United States Coast Guard installation until 1996. Following its decommissioning as a military base, there were several plans for redeveloping Governors Island. It was sold to the public for a nominal sum in 2003, and opened for public use in 2005.
Governors Island has become a popular destination for the public, attracting more than 800,000 visitors per year as of 2018. In addition to the 43-acre (17 ha) public park, Governors Island includes free arts and cultural events, as well as recreational activities. The New York Harbor School, a public high school with a maritime-focused curriculum, has been on the island since 2010. The island can only be accessed by ferries from Brooklyn and Manhattan, and there are no full-time residents as of 2022. It was accessible to the public only during the summer until 2021, when the island started operating year-round.
Etymology[edit]
The Native Lenape refer to the island as Paggank,[7][8] Pagganck,[9] or Pagganack.[10][11]: 9 All of these names literally translate to "Nut Island", likely in reference to the many chestnut, hickory, and oak trees on the island.[7][10][11]: 9 [12] The Dutch explorer Adriaen Block called it Noten Eylandt, a translation,[7][8] and this was Anglicized into Nutten Island, a name that continued to be used until the late 18th century.[9] The name "Governor's Island", with an apostrophe, stems from the British colonial era, when the colonial assembly reserved the island for the exclusive use of New York's royal governors.[13][14] The current name without an apostrophe was made official in 1784.[9]
Official websites:
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