Roosevelt Island

Yesterday we decided to check out Roosevelt Island. We often go past the Sky Tram that takes you over to Roosevelt Island (though you can take the subway as well) and have thought it would be a good day trip. So yesterday was the day!

Roosevelt Island is a small island in the East River. On one side of the island you can see Manhattan and the other Queens. To get over to the island we took the sky tram which runs pretty regularly weekdays and on weekends. Once you are on the tram it only takes about 5 minutes to travel across. We were quite lucky on the way to the island because there weren’t many on the tram, so we could take lots of photos and check out the view. Unfortunately at 1:30 in the afternoon it was packed going back!

The tram stop in Manhattan.

The tram stop in Manhattan.

The view as we travelled across.

The view as we travelled across.

Looking along First Avenue.

Looking along First Avenue.

The East River from the tram.

The East River from the tram.

The tram station n Roosevelt Island.

The tram station on Roosevelt Island.

Our tram heading back to Manhattan.

Our tram heading back to Manhattan.

Once we arrived on Roosevelt Island we decided to walk around the entire island before stopping and having lunch then heading back over to Manhattan. The island is 3km long, so definitely was achievable but left me tired, hungry and sore at the end! I definitely got my exercise yesterday. Unfortunately, much to Tate’s disappointment, he had to stay in the pram or we would have been there all day and night!

The view of Manhattan from Roosevelt Island.

The view of Manhattan from Roosevelt Island.

It was interesting to learn a bit about the history of Roosevelt Island while we were there. In 1828 the City of New York purchased the island from the owners (the Blackwell family) for $32,000. That is equivalent to around $670,000 today. A whole island for not really a lot more than the average family home!

After walking part of the island we stopped at a playground for Tate. He would have been disappointed if we didn’t at some point!

A little tricky but achievable with the help of Richard!

A little tricky but achievable with the help of Richard!

I think Tate was feeling a little brave yesterday!

I think Tate was feeling a little brave yesterday!

Right by the playground there is a bit of a historical landmark called The Octagon. From the playground you can see the back of it, with a swimming pool, but I snapped a photo from the front. The Octagon was built in 1834 and was originally the main entrance to the New York City Lunatic Asylum. Now, however, it is the main lobby of an apartment building.

The Octagon.

The Octagon.

At the northeast tip of the island is a lighthouse. The stone lighthouse was built in 1872. Unfortunately we couldn’t get too close to check it out as it is currently fenced off.

Roosevelt Island Lighthouse.

Roosevelt Island Lighthouse.

At the other end of the island is Southpoint Park and the Franklin D. Roosevelt Four Freedoms Park. At Southpoint Park there was a lovely old building called the Strecker Memorial Laboratory. From my research, it was built in 1892 to serve as a laboratory for City Hospital. Now it is used by the Metropolitan Transit Authority to house a power conversion substation for trains that run under Roosevelt Island.

Strecker Memorial Labratory.

Strecker Memorial Labratory.

There are also the ruins of the Smallpox Hospital that was built in 1856. It’s currently fenced off but after the completion of a stabilisation project should be open to the public.

The Smallpox Hospital.

The Smallpox Hospital.

The Smallpox Hospital.

The Smallpox Hospital.

The Smallpox Hospital.

The Smallpox Hospital.

The Smallpox Hospital.

The Smallpox Hospital.

After the hospital ruins it was onto the Franklin D. Roosevelt Four Freedoms Park. The park has only been open for 8 months.

Franklin D. Roosevelt monument.

Franklin D. Roosevelt monument.

The view from the end of the Franklin D. Roosevelt Four Freedoms Park.

The view from the end of the Franklin D. Roosevelt Four Freedoms Park.

About mylee

Hi, I'm an Aussie living in New York with my husband and two sons and tam using this as a cool way for my friends and family to keep in touch and find out what we are doing.

3 comments on “Roosevelt Island

  1. The history of the island looks interesting. I’m glad they had the decency to have a playground. Lol! Tate is really becoming quite an expert on playgrounds. Love him.

    I’m pretty sure neither Dad or I would cope with the sky tram. Dad wouldn’t even let me take Kally on Brighton jetty on Sunday.

    • The sky tram is cool! We won’t put that on a list of potential things to do them while your here! 🙂

  2. I’ve never noticed the sky tram in New York before but now I really want to go on it! You can definitely add it to the list of things to do when we visit 🙂
    Maybe by the time we eventually make it to NY the Small Pox Hospital stabilisation will be complete and we can check it out too. Looks like a very interesting place.