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.
Hart Island at a Glance#
Address: Hart Island, Bronx, NY (managed by NYC Department of Corrections/Dept. of Parks arrangements)
Website: https://www.nyc.gov/site/doc/community/hart-island.page
Admission: Access requires application for ferry/boat visits and permissions; some services exist for volunteers and researchers
About Hart Island#
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.
| Month | Comfort | Temp | Feels | Rain | Sky | Humidity | Wind | UV | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | - | -5° - 3° | -6° | 86 mm | - | - | 4.9 m/s | - | - |
| February | - | -4° - 5° | -5° | 75 mm | - | - | 4.9 m/s | - | - |
| March | - | 0° - 9° | 1° | 102 mm | - | - | 5.0 m/s | - | - |
| April | - | 5° - 16° | 8° | 98 mm | - | - | 4.8 m/s | - | - |
| May | - | 10° - 21° | 16° | 102 mm | - | - | 4.2 m/s | - | - |
| June | - | 15° - 26° | 21° | 82 mm | - | - | 4.0 m/s | - | - |
| July | - | 19° - 29° | 24° | 98 mm | - | - | 3.7 m/s | - | - |
| August | - | 18° - 28° | 23° | 107 mm | - | - | 3.6 m/s | - | - |
| September | - | 14° - 24° | 19° | 93 mm | - | - | 3.9 m/s | - | - |
| October | - | 8° - 18° | 13° | 85 mm | - | - | 4.1 m/s | - | - |
| November | - | 3° - 12° | 5° | 99 mm | - | - | 4.6 m/s | - | - |
| December | - | -2° - 6° | -2° | 93 mm | - | - | 4.8 m/s | - | - |
