History of the City of New York - Field Trip 11

Governors Island


Governors Island with The Battery in the foreground
The Governors Island trip led by Seth Kamil was a wonderful trip on a beautiful day. The Regional Plan Association sponsored their last tour of the season on Wednesday, October 14th. The tour left from Lower Manhattan where the group boarded a ferry to cross the water to Governors Island. The tour was designed for potential developers of the Island, but I feel like all New Yorkers should have a chance to discover this peaceful getaway. The Island was a miliary base that has complete facilities including a movie house, a school, two or three churches and a synagogue.

I really felt as if I escaped from the city for the afternoon on the tour as did the other politicans, developers and tourists on the trip. Seth informed us that the sale of the Island for $1.00 was simply a rumor and that the bidding will start at $500 million dollars after the year 2000. I think it would be shame to tear down the houses with their porches and lawns in order to build a casino or another commercial center there. Some of the houses are landmarked, including the house where Reagan and Gorbachev met to sign the treaty of 1988. I hope that more Columbia students will have the opportunity to visit Governors Island after the winter season.


Governors Island from the Harbor

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