Governors Island, New York City

Name: Governors Island
Address: New York City, United States

#1678 among attractions in New York City

Island

Gallery (13)

Map

Gallery

Photo details 1. Wikipedia / CC BY-SA 2.0 / Doug Kerr / URL • 2. Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 2.0 / Epicgenius / URL • 3. Wikimedia Commons / Public domain / Jim.henderson / URL • 4. Wikimedia Commons / Public domain / Jim.henderson / URL • 5. Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0 / Antony-22 / URL • 6. Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0 / MusikAnimal / URL • 7. Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0 / Arturoramos / URL

Facts and practical information

Governors Island is a 172-acre island in New York Harbor, within the New York City borough of Manhattan. It is located approximately 800 yards south of Manhattan Island, and is separated from Brooklyn to the east by the 400-yard-wide Buttermilk Channel. The National Park Service administers a small portion of the north end of the island as the Governors Island National Monument, including two former military fortifications named Fort Jay and Castle Williams. The Trust for Governors Island operates the remaining 150 acres, including 52 historic buildings, as a public park. About 103 acres of the land area is fill, added in the early 1900s to the south of the original island. ()

Alternative names: Area: 171.99 acres (0.2687 mi²)Maximum elevation: 70 ftCoordinates: 40°41'29"N, 74°0'58"W

Address

Governors IslandNew York City United States

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Day trips

Governors Island – popular in the area (distance from the attraction)

Nearby attractions include: Battery Park, Castle Clinton, Fraunces Tavern Museum, Castle Williams.

0.8 miN
Waterfront park with harbor views
Battery Park, New York City
21 min walk • Battery Park, a verdant oasis at the southern tip of Manhattan, offers New Yorkers and visitors alike a peaceful escape from the bustle of city life. This 25-acre public park, named for the artillery batteries that once lined the shore, boasts panoramic views of New...
0.8 miN
Historic fort with small museum
Castle Clinton, New York City
22 min walk • Castle Clinton stands as a historical fortress and a welcoming landmark in the heart of New York City's Battery Park. Built just before the War of 1812, Castle Clinton was originally an island fortification named Castle Garden, intended to defend New York Harbor.
0.9 miN
Museum, History museum, Architecture
Fraunces Tavern Museum, New York City
23 min walk • Nestled in the heart of New York City's historic district, Fraunces Tavern Museum is a venerable institution that offers visitors a unique glimpse into the early history of the United States. Situated at 54 Pearl Street in Lower Manhattan, this museum is housed in one...
~1020 ftNW
Museum, Military museum, View point
Castle Williams, New York City
5 min walk • Castle Williams stands as a stoic monument on Governors Island in New York City, New York. This robust, circular fortification, constructed between 1807 and 1811, was designed by architect and engineer Lieutenant Colonel Jonathan Williams, with its primary purpose...
0.9 miN
Oldest NYC public park, since 1733
Bowling Green, New York City
25 min walk • Bowling Green is a small public park in the Financial District of Lower Manhattan, New York City, at the southern end of Broadway.
0.7 miN
Amusement park, Amusement ride
SeaGlass Carousel, New York City
19 min walk • The SeaGlass Carousel is a fish-themed carousel in Battery Park at the southern tip of Manhattan Island in New York City. The carousel opened to the public on August 20, 2015. The project to build a carousel was created by Warrie Price, founding president of the Battery Park Conservancy.
0.9 miN
Monuments and statues, Architecture
Alexander Hamilton U.S. Custom House, New York City
23 min walk • The Alexander Hamilton U.S. Custom House is a custom house erected in 1902–1907 by the federal government to house the duty collection operations for the Port of New York.
0.9 miNE
Museum, Specialty museum, History museum
New York City Police Museum, New York City
24 min walk • The New York City Police Museum is a museum that has featured the history and contributions of the New York City Police Department since its establishment in 1845.
0.9 miN
Museum
George Gustav Heye Center, New York City
23 min walk • The National Museum of the American Indian–New York, the George Gustav Heye Center, is a branch of the National Museum of the American Indian in Manhattan, New York City. The museum is part of the Smithsonian Institution.
~30 ftE
Forts and castles
Fort Jay, New York City
1 min walk • Fort Jay is a coastal bastion fort and the name of a former United States Army post on Governors Island in New York Harbor, within New York City.
0.8 miN
Church, Georgian architecture, Sacred and religious sites
Shrine of St. Elizabeth Ann Bayley Seton, New York City
20 min walk • The Shrine of St. Elizabeth Ann Bayley Seton is located in the Church of Our Lady of the Holy Rosary, a Roman Catholic parish church of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New York at 7 State Street, between Pearl and Water Streets in the Financial District of Manhattan, New York City.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Which popular attractions are close to Governors Island?

Nearby attractions include Governors Island, New York City (1 min walk), Fort Jay, New York City (1 min walk), Admiral's House, New York City (5 min walk), Castle Williams, New York City (5 min walk).

How to get to Governors Island by public transport?

The nearest stations to Governors Island:

Ferry

Whitehall • Lines: Sif (17 min walk)
Battery Park • Lines: Sc-Ny (21 min walk)

Metro

South Ferry • Lines: 1 (19 min walk)
Whitehall Street–South Ferry • Lines: N, R, W (22 min walk)

Bus

South Ferry/Terminal • Lines: M15-Sbs (19 min walk)
Broadway & Battery Place • Lines: 120 (24 min walk)