Roosevelt Island is located in the East River Strait between Manhattan and Long Island, and was named after U.S. President Franklin Delano Roosevelt. The land belongs to urban possessions, in 1969 it was leased for almost a century to 4 companies that merged into the Urban Development Corporation.
History and development
Roosevelt Island wasn't always called that, it has a backstory. According to archival data, in 1637, Water Van Twiller acquired Borov Island from the Indians. In 1666, Captain John Manning seized the territory and gave it his name. After 20 years, the land passed into the possession of his son-in-law Robert Blackwell, and the island received his name. In 1796, Blackwell's great-grandson Jacob built a house here.
New York bought the island from Jacob Blackwell in 1828, and four years later a 5-story prison was being built here from gray-blue stone, which was mined by convicts. In 1839, preparations began for the opening of a psychiatric clinic. "Initially,"it was assumed that the building would be designed in the form of the letter "P," but the funds were enough for half the work, and the structure resembled the letter "G." Men were treated in one wing and women in the other, and a space for violent patients was organized in the attic. In 1921, the site became known as Wellfare Island. In 1935, the prison was closed, and the prisoners were transported to Rikers. The island has had its current name since 1973.
Short description
The area of Roosevelt Island is 590,000 square meters, the length is 3.2 kilometers, and the maximum width exceeds 200 meters. It went down in history, because the first psychiatric clinic in the history of the United States was built here, in 1894 the institution was reclassified and the name was updated to Metropolitan Hospital. A year later, some of the patients were transferred to the island of Ward.
In 1955, the Metropolitan Hospital moved, and the hospital building became abandoned. In 1994, it was demolished, and South Point Park was opened on this site, which welcomes guests from dawn to dusk. Various flowers and plants grow on its territory, there are observation decks with views of the East River and the silhouette of Manhattan. There are walking paths and picnic areas.
Attractions
Special attention is drawn to the "Four Freedoms" park, which is decorated with a statue of Roosevelt. The back of the monument is decorated with a quote from a politician who says that humanity needs freedom of speech, the opportunity to choose a religion, freedom from poverty, as well as fear.
There is an architectural monument of the XVIII century on Roosevelt Island – the ancient 2-storey Blackwell house with a 1-storey kitchen wing, included in the National Register of Historic Places of the country. It is the only surviving private building. It was renovated in 2022. New partitions were installed here, ceilings, stairs, heating and ventilation systems were updated. The electrics and plumbing were replaced and new fixtures were installed. After renovation, the first floor of the house is open to the public. A 15-meter lighthouse located in the north was added to the same list. It was built as a landmark for ships passing between the rocks in the so-called "Gates of Hell". The lighthouse on Roosevelt Island was restored, and restoration was completed in the late 90s. There was an inscription on the stone near the landmark that it was the work of John McCarthy, and there was also a request to pray for him.
How to get
There is a subway station of the same name on Roosevelt Island, Line F, and a cable car connecting Roosevelt with Manhattan. You can arrive by NYC Ferry or tram, which can be paid for in cash or by credit card.
The island is open to the public all year round. Residents of the United States say that it is best to come here from April to June or from September to early November. It's neither hot nor cold at this time of year, which is great for walking and exploring the views of the river and Manhattan.
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