Governor’s Island

After a long and rich colonial history, Governors Island transitioned into a new chapter which started in 1783, a time period mostly affiliated with the U.S. Army. After numerous wars prompted by unstable conflicts between France and Great Britain, the U.S. federal government opened a national program of harbor fortifications in the late 1790s, and by 1800 Governors Island was conceded from the State of New York to the federal government. This transition allowed the reconstruction of Fort Jay and Half Moon Battery, two of the most important structures on the island. After the works in late 1790s, the island underwent a second fortification in 1807 with the building of Castle Williams and second reconstruction of Fort Jay (Glen 10), (A Brief History of Governors Island). By the 1830s, however, Governors Island was defensively obsolete. Nonetheless, it continued military operations in most areas, although some parts were converted to non-military use.

The island was largely used as a training facility for peacetime U.S. Army troops, including serving as a military music school. The island was also used as a federal arsenal. Although Castle Williams remained largely for administrative purposes, during the Civil War it was used as a Confederate prison. In 1878, all the military installations on the island, which were collectively known as Fort Columbus, eventually became the army headquarters for Military Division of the Atlantic and Department of the East. The island was responsible for coordinating many military activities for the eastern US. The development of the island into a large military center allowed for military personnel (typically officers) to bring their families to live there. Eventually, the establishment of these communities allowed for the creation of several public structures, including a theater, chapels, public schools, YMCA, etc. Later on in 1939, the island officially became the headquarters of the U.S. First Army.

From the beginning of the 20th century and until roughly the 1960s, Governors Island underwent great changes. “Using rocks and dirt from the excavations for the Lexington Avenue Subway, the Army Corps of Engineers supervised the deposit of 4,787,000 cubic yards of fill on the south side of Governors Island, adding 103 acres of flat, treeless land by 1912 and bringing the total acreage of the island to 172. In 1918, the Army built the Governors Island Railroad, which consisted of 1-¾ miles of track and three flat cars carrying coal, machinery, and supplies from the pier to shops and warehouses.” (The Trust for Governors Island). At one point, Robert Moses proposed for a bridge to be built, where one of the bases would be located on Governors Island. However, the proposal was shut down due to fear of threats to the Brooklyn Navy Yard. Other proposals were given, such as a municipal airport, but many were turned down mostly due to costs.

Costs, in fact, played a large role in closing many of the military installations, including Fort Jay by 1966. That year marked the end of the second era in Governors Island’s history. Later on, the island became officially the largest Coast Guard base in the world, and became the headquarters for the Atlantic Area command. The community on the island bloomed to a population of roughly 3,500 and enjoyed the same great prestige as during the army era. During this time period, the island enjoyed a large number of historic events, including the U.S. – U.S.S.R summit between President Reagan and Gorbachev in 1988 and the UN 1993 summits on restoring democracy in Haiti (The Trust for Governors Island).

Again due to increased costs, however, the Coast Guard was also forced to stop operations in Governors Island. In 2001, the island went officially on sale to the people of New York. This change in ownership marked a new beginning for GI’s long history, particularly a new chapter marked with new promising public ventures for the benefit of NYC’s local communities, students, etc. A small part was given to the National Park Service and was declared the National Island National Monument.

In 2006, a proposal given by then Governor Pataki and current Major Bloomberg to push for new ideas to redevelop the island into a center of culture, business, education, and innovation, allowed for a plethora of new proposals for redevelopment. Over a span of only a few years, plans for sustainability, university research land grants, public schools, and many other initiatives took place, which eventually sparked further public excitement.

Pushed by organizations such as The Trust for Governors Island, new public outreach programs have allowed the island to become a bit more accessible and open each year. Every summer, the island gathers quite a bit of local as well as tourist attraction with its plethora of tours and events. These include special family festivals, arts and music exhibits, historical celebrations including “Army Heritage Day”, a vast number of party-like ceremonies such as the “Roaring 20s Lawn Party”, “Jazz Age Lawn Party”, dance exhibitions, and even bicycle tours, graphic and design workshops, and cancer-awareness walks. (Trust for Governors Island)

Besides the vibrant summer and spring activities, the island has also attracted institutions of higher learning who are seeking to expand research facilities. This includes an already ongoing plan for the expansion of New York University. (NYU 2031)

Governors Island was an attractive place for military and coast guard operations due to its strategic location in NYC and in the northeast. Even though military operations continued throughout the Great Depression and well into the 60s, then eventually transitioning to the U.S. Coast Guard, the island has since detached from these kinds of purposes and has become an attractive land for general public use. As is evident by the pace of current development, the island seems to perhaps have found its best role yet in serving the people of NYC.

Works Cited

“A Brief History of Governors Island – Governors Island National Monument.” U.S. National Park Service. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Apr. 2012. <http://www.nps.gov/gois/historyculture/a-brief-history-of-governors-island.htm>.

Glen, Susan L.. Governors Island. Charleston, SC: Arcadia Pub., 2006. Print.

“NYU 2031: NYU in NYC.” New York University. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 May 2012. <http://www.nyu.edu/nyu2031/nyuinnyc

Smith, Edmund Banks. Governor’s Island: its military history under three flags, 1637-1913. New York: Published by the author, 1913. Print.

“The Trust for Governors Island – History of Governors Island – History.” The Trust for Governors Island. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Apr. 2012. http://www.govisland.com/html/history/history. shtml