Hart Island
Island New York's potter's-field island used for mass burials
In the Long Island Sound, Hart Island serves as New York City’s public burial ground; visitors come for historical context and memorials, though access is restricted and visits regulated.
.JPG?width=1200)
Hart Island is a narrow island in the Long Island Sound at the western end of the Bronx, New York City, historically used by the city as its public potter’s field. For well over a century the island has been the site of burial for unclaimed, unidentified, or indigent people and for those for whom the city arranges interment.
Burials on Hart Island have been conducted in trenches and organized sections; the island’s role as the municipal potter’s field has made it a subject of public attention and documentation. The island is administered by New York City agencies and is located off the city’s northeastern shoreline, separated from the Bronx mainland by tidal waters.
- Potter's field and scale: Used as New York City's public potter's field for over a century, it contains mass and individual burials for unclaimed or indigent people, with interment numbers reported in the hundreds of thousands to over a million across its history.
How to Get to Hart Island #
Visits to Hart Island are by scheduled ferry from the Hart Island Project ferry dock in the Bronx; access requires application and approval through the city’s procedures. Check the NYC Department of Correction/Hart Island Project web pages for current visitation policies.
Tips for Visiting Hart Island #
- Book ferry trips or volunteer burial services well in advance-space is limited and regulated
- If visiting, bring identification and be prepared for a brief processing at the dock in the Bronx
- Respect the solemn nature of the site-photography of funerary activity should be discreet
Best Time to Visit Hart Island #
Spring and autumn often provide the best weather for the short trip across Long Island Sound from the Bronx; ferry schedules and access are limited-arrange ahead.
Weather & Climate near Hart Island #
Temperate climate with warm summers (peaking in July) and freezing winters (coldest in January). Temperatures range from -5°C to 29°C. Abundant rainfall (1120 mm/year), wettest in August, distributed fairly evenly throughout the year.
January
January is the coldest month with highs of 3°C and lows of -5°C. Regular rainfall (86 mm).
Comfort
Weather
February
February is cold with highs of 5°C and lows of -4°C. Moderate rainfall (75 mm).
Comfort
Weather
March
March is cold with highs of 9°C and lows of 0°C. Significant rainfall (102 mm).
Comfort
Weather
April
April is cool with highs of 16°C and lows of 5°C. Regular rainfall (98 mm).
Comfort
Weather
May
May is cool with highs of 21°C and lows of 10°C. Significant rainfall (102 mm).
Comfort
Weather
June
June is mild with highs of 26°C and lows of 15°C. Regular rainfall (82 mm).
Comfort
Weather
July
July is the warmest month with highs of 29°C and lows of 19°C. Regular rainfall (98 mm).
Comfort
Weather
August
August is mild with highs of 28°C and lows of 18°C. The wettest month with heavy rain (107 mm).
Comfort
Weather
September
September is mild with highs of 24°C and lows of 14°C. Regular rainfall (93 mm).
Comfort
Weather
October
October is cool with highs of 18°C and lows of 8°C. Regular rainfall (85 mm).
Comfort
Weather
November
November is cold with highs of 12°C and lows of 3°C. Regular rainfall (99 mm).
Comfort
Weather
December
December is cold with highs of 6°C and lows of -2°C. Regular rainfall (93 mm).
