Above photo: Castle Williams in winter. Courtesy National Park Service. Right: Lithograph of New York from Governors Island, 1821-1825, Henry I. Megarey. Courtesy Library of Congress.

Since the American Revolution until just prior to the turn of the 21st century, Governors Island has played a role in the defense of New York City. It was captured from Continental forces by the British after the Battle of Brooklyn (Battle of Long Island) and served as a defense for the enemy for the remainder of that war for Independence. During the War of 1812, its strong new forts would force the British to think of attacking elsewhere, to the chagrin of D.C. residents. During the War Between the States, Confederate prisoners were housed within its walls. World War II saw Governors Island as the base for the 1st Army Corps. Today that history is shown to visitors of the new National Monument (2001-3) with two restored forts, plus the remaining grounds of the monument and island. Only eight hundred yards from Manhattan and even closer to Brooklyn, it's history that should be visited, just as that of those better known cousins to the west and north.

Photo above: Entrance to Fort Jay, 2016. Courtesy National Park Service/Michael B. Shaver. Photo Middle: Co. E., 12th Infantry on parade, 1908. Courtesy Library of Congress. Photo Bottom: Lithograph of New York City from above with Governors Island on the right, 1888, L.W. Schmidt. Courtesy Library of Congress.

Governors Island Then

Castle Williams - Completed in 1811, the round fortification was the preeminent style fort from that year through the next fifty in coastal defenses. It complemented two other forts on Governors Island; Fort Jay and the South Battery. The harbor was defended by Governors Island, Castle Clinton on Manhattan, Fort Gibson on Oyster Island (Ellis Island today), and Fort Wood, which is now the base for the Statue of Liberty. During the War of 1812, the British considered the defenses provided by these forts as too strong to attack, instead choosing Maryland and the burning of Washington. After 1830, Castle Williams was no longer useful as a fort, but served as a garrison for troops, and later a prison.

Fort Jay - Built after the American Revolution, which saw earthworks on the island controlled at first by Continental Army troops before the British took over, Fort Jay was built during the last years of the 18th century. It was named Fort Jay after John Jay, the Governor of New York, in 1798, and was reconstructed by the year 1809 to serve in the defenses of the City of New York during the War of 1812. The fort was used by the Coast Guard from 1966 to 1997.

Governors Island Now

Part of the reason more tourists don't know of Governors Island National Monument compared to its harbor cousins is the newness of the monumnet. It was established in 2001 and 2003 by the presidential proclamations of President Clinton. Today, Castle Williams and Fort Jay, a pentagon shaped star fort, have been restored and are available to visit by tour or on your own.

The remaining acreage is run by the Trust for Governors Island. There are fifty-two historic buildings on the trust land. BTW. The island was not always this large. In 1912, one hundred and three acres were added with ground from subway construction.