Governors Island Historic District

Governors Island lies one-half mile from the south end of Manhattan. The first Europeans to occupy the island were the directors of the Dutch New Netherland Colony. Its name derives from its role as the estate of the Governors of the English Colony of New York; a 1698 act of the New York legislature set aside the island for “the benefit and accommodation of his Majesty's governors.” While the island has had many uses (including racetrack, sheep farm, quarantine and a game preserve), it is primarily known for its use as a military base. The U.S. Army maintained a base on the island from 1821 until 1966, when it became the U.S. Coast Guard's largest installation. The Coast Guard sold the island to New York City and New York State in 2003. Prior to the sale of the island, the Historic American Buildings Survey conducted an extensive study of the island's historic resources.

Between 1902 and 1912, the land area of Governors Island was doubled to 172 acres, using landfill from subway construction. The historic district covers 70 percent of the island, including the entire original island. It also contains one hundred buildings, dating from the early eighteenth century through the 1980s. Five of these are individually designated: Governor's House, Fort Jay, Castle Williams, Admiral's House, and Block House. McKim, Mead and & White's Building 400 (1929-30) is also noteworthy. It was the first structure built to house an entire regiment (1,375 soldiers), making it the largest military building in the world when it was constructed.

In May of 2012, elected officials and the Trust for Governors Island broke ground on a new park and public space planned for the island. Within the district, historic landscapes will be rejuvenated with new gateways and signage. ©2014