Governors Island

Governors Island is a 172-acre island in New York Harbor, located south of Manhattan and north of Brooklyn. It contains military fortifications and a growing network of public parks and cultural spaces that opened more widely to the public after the island’s transfer from federal to local management.

The island’s two principal 19th century fortifications are Fort Jay and Castle Williams, both constructed for harbor defence and now preserved as historic monuments. Public areas include restored historic houses, event spaces, lawns and paths that offer skyline and harbor vistas; seasonal ferry services link the island to Manhattan and Brooklyn.

The island served as a military installation for more than a century, with the U.S. Army operating a garrison there into the 20th century and the U.S. Coast Guard maintaining facilities until the 1990s. After military use ended, the island was transferred for public redevelopment and park creation and now hosts a mix of historic preservation and new public landscapes.

Governors Island sits in Upper New York Bay, immediately south of Lower Manhattan and north of Brooklyn, in New York State. Ferries operate from Manhattan and Brooklyn to on-island docks during regular public access hours.

• Size and key structures: The island covers approximately 172 acres and contains two 19th century fortifications - Fort Jay and Castle Williams - that are designated historic sites.
• Recent history: The U.S. Army maintained a presence on the island until the mid 20th century and the U.S. Coast Guard operated there until the 1990s; the island is now managed for public use and redevelopment.

What to See #

• Fort Jay: A 19th century star-shaped fortification with interior parade ground and barracks that is one of two principal historic forts on the island; it is part of the Governors Island National Monument.
• Castle Williams: A circular masonry fort built in the early 19th century on the island's waterfront, designed for harbor defense and now conserved as an accessible ruin with interior passages.
• Colonel's Row and historic houses: A row of 19th century officers' houses and other historic buildings clustered on a north-south residential street; several restored houses are open to the public during events.