24 Facts About Governors Island

Governors Island is a 172-acre island in New York Harbor, within the New York City borough of Manhattan.

The Trust for Governors Island operates the remaining 150 acres, including 52 historic buildings, as a public park.

The name was translated into the Dutch Noten Eylandt, then Anglicized into Nutten Governors Island, before being renamed Governor's Governors Island by the late 18th century.

Governors Island was one of the first locations where defenses were built.

The secluded ambiance of Governors Island was altered somewhat when the first solid waste incinerator in the U S was built on Governors Island in 1885.

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The Coast Guard consolidated its operations at Governors Island, making the island the Coast Guard's largest installation.

The following year, it was announced that Governors Island would become public property, though the transfer of the island was delayed due to the 2002 New York gubernatorial election.

At first, Governors Island was only open during summer weekends, except for a few concerts.

Demolition of old structures on Governors Island began in 2008 with the destruction of a derelict motel.

The city unveiled a new master development plan that preserved the historic north end of Governors Island, developed the middle and southern portions of the island as a park, and reserved the western and eastern sections for private development.

In September 2019, the Lower Manhattan Cultural Council's expanded Arts Center at Governors Island opened in a renovated former ordnance warehouse at the north end of the island.

In March 2020, the Trust for Governors Island issued a Request for Proposals seeking arts and culture organizations to become year-round tenants in two historic buildings in Nolan Park.

Governors Island contains several named streets, mostly in the northern part of the island.

Governors Island's shape is roughly characterized as resembling an ice cream cone.

The highest natural point on Governors Island is 40 feet above mean water level at the base of Fort Jay, in the northern portion of the island.

The paths in this portion of Governors Island are meandering, in a style similar to Frederick Law Olmsted's designs of Central Park and Prospect Park, which incorporate winding paths to reinforce a secluded atmosphere.

Governors Island contains several clusters of low-rise officers' housing, now mostly unoccupied, though some structures are used as exhibits or for administrative purposes.

Governors Island has several small vehicular garages of varying styles.

The southern part of Governors Island contained building 785, which included a Burger King and bowling alley.

Trust for Governors Island, legally the Governors Island Corporation, is a nonprofit organization of the city government that is responsible for managing the redevelopment for the rest of the island.

Friends of Governors Island is the private nonprofit organization that manages the island's operations and programming.

Governors Island employs working dogs to chase the Canada geese off of the island.

Until 2015, Governors Island was publicly accessible only on summer weekends and was rarely open during nighttime except during concerts.

Governors Island has two ferry landings, Soissons Landing and Yankee Pier.