North Brother Island
Island Small Bronx island, former quarantine hospital
A small island in New York City’s East River, notable for an abandoned quarantine hospital and bird colonies. Visitors glimpse decaying architecture and island wildlife from passing boats and river tours; public access is tightly controlled by city authorities.
North Brother Island is a small, uninhabited island in the East River of New York City notable for its abandoned hospital complex and quarantine history. The island’s ruined buildings are a prominent feature and it is no longer occupied.
The island is principally of interest for its derelict Riverside Hospital complex, its history as a quarantine site for infectious diseases, and its value as an urban wildlife refuge. Public access is restricted and visits require permission from the city or organized groups.
Riverside Hospital and associated buildings were used by New York City as a quarantine facility in the late 19th and early 20th centuries; Mary Mallon, known as “Typhoid Mary,” was confined there from 1915 until her death in 1938. The island has been vacated and largely abandoned since the mid 20th century.
North Brother Island lies in the East River off the Bronx shore, between Rikers Island and the Bronx mainland, and is part of New York City.
- Riverside Hospital history: The island contains a substantial abandoned hospital complex that was used for quarantine of infectious disease patients, most famously holding Mary Mallon from 1915 until her death in 1938.
- Access: Access is restricted and the island is managed for conservation; visits require permits and are not open to casual public access.
What to See #
- Riverside Hospital: A late 19th and early 20th century quarantine hospital complex where Mary Mallon ("Typhoid Mary") was confined; the ruins remain the island's dominant structures.
How to Get to North Brother Island #
North Brother Island is in the East River off the Bronx and is not open to the general public. Landing on the island is prohibited except by permit from New York City authorities; it can be viewed from the water or from parts of the Bronx shoreline, and only legally visited by organised, authorised trips or research parties with permission.
Tips for Visiting North Brother Island #
- North Brother Island is closed to public landing and contains unstable historic structures; do not attempt to land-observe it only from authorised boat tours or approved mainland vantage points.
- Arrange to view the island from a licensed tour or charter that follows Parks/Harbor rules; such tours show the island's history while protecting nesting birds and fragile buildings.
- If your interest is wildlife or photography, view the island from the water with a long lens-many visitors miss the large heron and egret colonies that nest there.
Best Time to Visit North Brother Island #
North Brother Island is generally not open to the public; any visit requires official permission and is most likely to coincide with spring-summer wildlife interest.
