Welcome back to National Parks and other public lands with T!

Governors Island has served as a military outpost for over 200 years. It began as a colonial militia base in 1755 and played a key role in defending New York Harbor during the War of 1812. During the Civil War, it was used to hold Confederate prisoners. In times of peace, the island served as a training ground and administrative center—first for the U.S. Army, and later for the Coast Guard.

Touring Governors Island➤

I journeyed to Governors Island with a local school group. After touring Castle Williams, we continued exploring other areas of the park. While portions of the island are managed by the National Park Service, most of it is overseen by the Trust for Governors Island in partnership with the City of New York. Over the course of ten years, the Trust transformed the island’s once-abandoned areas into a hilly park offering commanding views of New York City and the harbor.

Built atop the debris of buildings that once stood here, The Hills first opened in 2016. The area features accessible paths that wind to the summit, large stone block steps for climbing, and— in one section— a slide that lets visitors glide back down.

After exploring The Hills, we made our way back to the historic district, where our guide still had more stops planned and more stories to share.

South Battery➤

The South Battery completed the trio of forts built on Governors Island. Constructed during the War of 1812, it stood guard over Buttermilk Channel, the narrow stretch of water separating the island from Brooklyn. Over the years, the fort found new life—first as a barracks and later as the officers’ mess hall.

Nolan Park➤

Next, we strolled through Nolan Park, lined with 15 charming yellow houses. Built between 1845 and 1902, they once served as family quarters for Army officers. Today, nonprofit organizations lease the homes and actively maintain them to preserve their historic character.

At the end of the row stands the Governor’s House—a bit of a misnomer, as no governor ever lived there. Instead, it served as the residence of the island’s commanding officer.

Fort Jay➤

For the final stop on our tour, we re-entered National Park Service territory to visit Fort Jay. The earliest of the island’s three forts, Fort Jay is currently undergoing repairs to its façade. Its entrance features a medieval-looking gate spanning a dry moat, topped by an eagle sculpture standing guard. At the moment, that eagle is missing a wing, and the National Park Service is in the process of reattaching it.

The largest of the island’s three forts, Fort Jay shares the same star-shaped design as the fort across the bay that now supports the Statue of Liberty. We went down into the cellar to view an unusual display of earth borings. If the British had attacked New York during the War of 1812, this space would have served as a bomb shelter.

When I visited Governors Island in the late 1980s, it was a decaying Coast Guard base. It was gratifying to see the progress the National Park Service has made in restoring historic structures, along with the Trust for Governors Island’s success in transforming once-unused areas into a beautiful urban park.

Governors Island posts➤

• Battery Maritime Building
• Soissons Landing and Castle Williams
• Liggett Hall
• Fort Jay and The Hills

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Location: New York City
Designation: National Monument
Date designated/established: January 19, 2001
Date of my visit: September 11, 2018