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The Early Birds Monument and Governors Island Aviation Pioneers
Governors Island played an important role in the history of aviation. Each week this month will be a historical look at one event in the island’s contribution to the history of manned flight. The Early Birds Monument is the only tribute to the island’s part in the early days of aviation. It is located outside Liggett Hall (40.687967 N, -74.018033 E). The unique bronze monument is also the first public sculpture on Governors Island. This rough-cut granite marker has a bronze propeller that was cast from a wooden one used by Wilbur Wright on the Island in 1909. The monument was dedicated on Dec. 17, 1954 to honor pioneering aviators…
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Pioneer Aviator Katherine Stinson, the Schoolgirl Pilot, Lands in 1917
Governors Island played an important role in the history of aviation. Each week this month will be a historical look at one event in the island’s contribution to the history of manned flight. Many other pioneering aviators followed the first men to fly on the Island, Wilbur Wright and Glenn Curtiss. In 1916 Ruth Law (1887-1970) broke the American record for cross-country flying. On Nov. 20, 1916, she flew from Chicago to Governors Island, a distance of 950 miles, in a little less than nine hours in the air. The following year another young woman captured the nation’s attention at the tiny Governors Island airfield built at Fort Jay. This…
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Glenn Curtiss and the 1910 Flying Marksman of Fort Jay
Governors Island played an important role in the history of aviation. Each week this month will be a historical look at one event in the island’s contribution to the history of manned flight. Wilbur Wright snared glory in 1909 on Governors Island. The next year his chief rival, Glenn H. Curtiss, snared something much more valuable on the Island: military contracts. While Orville and Wilbur Wright earned one kind of fame, Curtiss sewed up War Department funding. Some of the first-ever military airplane demonstrations happened in the same spot where Liggett Terrace is today. Like the Wrights, Curtiss also came from a humble background and had a keen interest in…
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Wilbur Wright Flies Over New York Harbor in 1909
Governors Island played an important role in the history of aviation. Each week this month will be a historical look at one event in the island’s contribution to the history of manned flight. Southeast of Liggett Terrace is the Early Birds Monument, the first public sculpture on Governors Island. From a distance it looks like a propeller mounted on a base. What it symbolizes is the men and women who flew on the island prior to 1916. The propeller was cast from a plane that belonged to the Wright Brothers. It was dedicated in 1954. In 1909 Orville and Wilbur Wright were at the top of the new field of…
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Stories About the Buildings: Tampa Memorial Library
With the Island closed to the public until May, we’ll take a look at some of the history of Governors Island. One of the most visible of the unused structures from Fort Jay is the old Tampa Memorial Library (building S-251). Its coordinates are 40.692698 N, -74.018052 E. It’s across the street from Castle Williams. Building S-251 is a rectangular one-story wood frame structure set on a high brick basement. Building S-251 was built about 1908 to serve the needs of the Fort Jay Quartermaster for storage and as a workshop. During World War I it was used for supplies and during World War II it was the post exchange…
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Frank Sinatra on Governors Island in WW2
Frank Sinatra was born 100 years ago today, and the Internet seems to be going crazy about the milestone. There’s a little-known story about the time “The Voice” went to Fort Jay on Governors Island in 1945. The tale is best told on the Governors Island National Monument Facebook page, reproduced here. If you aren’t already, follow them, because there are good history updates all year long. World War II was entering its fourth year in February 1945. No one of course knew at the time that the conflict would be over in six months. The Army was still looking for recruits. In December 1943 Sinatra had been declared 4-F…
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Tragedy Avoided in 1901 Fire on the Island
With the island opening for the season on Saturday I am ready to get out there for its 13th annual season. I am working like mad to finish my manuscript for the Governors Island Explorer’s Guide, which is being published by Globe Pequot Press. I have an incredible amount of leftover material that won’t make it in the book, so let’s look at some of it. One thing people ask when I give a walking tour on Governors Island is about fires. There have been several. I think about this, because the island firehouse was demolished for development of The Hills on the south end. (The FDNY trucks were moved…
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Lost Amusement Parks of New York City Opens May 24
Empire Historic Arts is back on Governors Island with a new exhibit that will run May 24-September 27 (Saturdays and Sundays). “Lost Amusement Parks of New York City” Building 20B in Nolan Park An installation of ephemera and artifacts from a bygone era of New York’s amusement parks. For more information, visit their site and their Facebook page. Previously Empire Historic Arts exhibited “Tattered and Torn” on Governors Island.
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2014 Schedule Announced; Island Open 7 Days A Week
The Trust for Governors Island today announced its 2014 public season. Visitors to Governors Island will enjoy 30 new acres of extraordinary park that open for the first time. Additionally this season, visitors will enjoy more arts, cultural, recreational and educational programs than ever before. Governors Island opens to the public on Saturday, May 24 and will be open every day through September 28. “We want every New Yorker to feel like they are personally invited to enjoy the 2014 season on Governors Island,” said Leslie Koch, President of The Trust for Governors Island. “Governors Island is the shared place for art and play for the entire City.” The new…
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Free Walking Tour July 4
On Monday, July 4, I’m going to lead a free walking tour on Governors Island: The Secrets of Governors Island. My friend Janice Garingo and I launched the Governors Island Explorer’s Guide in May for iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch. We will meet at 1:15 on the hill above where the free Manhattan ferry docks (it’s called Soissons Dock, for the World War I engagement where the island’s 16th Infantry Regiment lost more than 1,700 men). The walk will be about two hours and we’ll end up at Water Taxi Beach for some Independence Day cold ones. The walk: free. The beer: not. I’ve been leading tours of the island…
