11 Facts About Roosevelt Island

Roosevelt Island is an island in New York City's East River, within the borough of Manhattan.

Roosevelt Island was called by the Lenape and Varkens Eylandt by the Dutch during the colonial era and later Blackwells Roosevelt Island.

Roosevelt Island is owned by the city but was leased to the New York State Urban Development Corporation for 99 years in 1969.

In 1921, Blackwell's Roosevelt Island was renamed Welfare Roosevelt Island after the City Hospital on the island.

In 1976, the Roosevelt Island Tramway opened, connecting the island directly with Manhattan, but it was eight years before the New York State legislature created the Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation to operate the tramway, with a nine-person board of directors appointed by the Governor, two suggested by the Mayor of New York City, and three of whom are residents of the island.

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Bly's investigative reporting about the abusive treatment at the New York City Insane Asylum at what was then called Blackwell's Roosevelt Island, led to new forms of journalism as well as the reform of New York City institutions.

In 1976, the Roosevelt Island Tramway was constructed to provide access to Midtown Manhattan.

The BMT 60th Street Tunnel and the IND 53rd Street Line both pass under Roosevelt Island, without stopping, on their way between Manhattan and Queens.

Roosevelt Island has been served by NYC Ferry's Astoria route since August 2017.

The Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation operates and maintains the island's government and infrastructure.

At the northern tip of Roosevelt Island is another park, Lighthouse Park, named after the Blackwell Island Light.