Themes in American History

Governors Island, in the heart of New York Harbor, is only 800 yards from Lower Manhattan, and even closer to Brooklyn. It is one of the longest continuously active military posts in the United States. Since the late 1700s the island has served as a major Army headquarters and later as the largest Coast Guard base in the nation. Its military role ended n 1996 after over 200 years of service.

The island was the first place settled by the Dutch West India Company in New York Harbor in 1624. The British officially acquired the Island in 1698 and named it “Governors Island,” for the benefit and accommodation of His Majesty’s Governors. In 1776 Gen. George Washington’s colonial army made a valiant attempt to fend off the British siege of New York. Patriot cannons on Governors Island fired some of the first shots of the Battle of Brooklyn. The British prevailed and held New York for the duration of the Revolutionary War, but the experience steeled the resolve of the young nation to protect its harbors. In one of its first initiatives that was truly national in scope, the United States began in the 1790s to fortify important harbors with a series of coastal defenses. Fort Jay and Castle Williams represent this early national effort. Castle Williams was one of a series of fortifications built in the early 19th century to defend New York Harbor. The circular red sandstone fort was built between 1807 and 1811 and named after its designer, Jonathan Williams.  Fort Jay was completed in 1798 and deterred the British from attacking the city during the War of 1812. The Army established a major arsenal on the island in 1833 and although advances in naval armaments reduced its tactical importance, the island remained an important military base through the second World War. In 1966 the Army left the island and the U.S. the base was transferred to the Coast Guard.

As time pass, the role of Governors Island has changed. Today, the island is open for public, it is not only a good place for people to have fun and relax, but also it is a valuable resource for people to learn about the American history. Whatever the past or the present, the Governors Island is always important for the city development.

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