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Walking Tours Summer 2021
For the ultimate deep-dive into the history of New York’s greatest public park, take the Secrets of Governors Island Walking Tour led by Kevin C. Fitzpatrick, author of The Governors Island Explorer’s Guide. This is the first and only guide book for the Island (and it’s the book all the other tour guides have to use). Upcoming dates: Sunday, August 15, 11:00 a.m. Saturday, September 25, 11:00 a.m. Book tickets in advance here.Then reserve your ferry tickets in advance here via The Trust. We meet in the Battery Maritime Building at 10:30 a.m.
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Walking Tours Return on Fridays
We are all happy that Governors Island is open for its 16th public season. For the second year in a row, it opened on May 1. It will remain open until October 31. This season the Trust For Governors Island is debuting a new ferry, which should help cut down on waiting times to the Battery Maritime Building. Walking tours have also resumed. These are held on most Fridays of the season, starting at 3:00 p.m. What will be nice is that the Island stays open late on most Friday nights, we we do not need to hustle to make it onto the last ferry off the Island at at…
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Aug. 6 Storytellers & History Day, Book Signing at Brooklyn ARTery
This summer is the 50th anniversary of the Army turning Governors Island over to the Coast Guard, and the 20th anniversary of the Coast Guard announcing that it too was leaving the Island. Governors Island opened to the public in 2003. Brooklyn ARTery has invited former service member residents and author of The Governors Island Explorer’s Guide, Kevin Fitzpatrick, for a series of free events: Saturday, Aug. 6, 2016, from 11:30-5:30pm, Governors Island, Nolan Park, Building 10B Panel Discussion/ Q and A with Former GI residents, Service Members and Coast Guard “brats” MC’d by Kevin Fitzpatrick: Hear what life was like when Governors Island was an Army and Coast Guard…
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Weekly Walking Tours Begin July 7
To answer the demand for walking tours, they are going to be held weekly in July and August this summer. Beginning July 7, they will be given every Thursday at 11:30 AM. To attend, you should take the 10:00 or 11:00 AM ferry. Advance tickets are on sale via FareHarbor.com and are recommended, as the tours do sell out. The two-hour walking tour will focus on the three hundred years of island history. Learn about the people and stories that shaped Governors Island. Stops explore the military life, Civil War and World War I events, aviation pioneers, and even where the tiny railroad once ran. The tour is led by…
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Book Signing at Castle Williams May 28-29
I am signing copies of my new book The Governors Island Explorer’s Guide (Globe Pequot Press) on Saturday and Sunday, May 28 and 29, from 11 AM to Noon both days. The location is a national historic landmark, a city landmark: Castle Williams on Governors Island. The fort is part of the Governors Island National Monument and is run by the National Park Service. The rangers have free tours of Castle Williams. I’ll be in the courtyard on opening weekend of Governors Island. Immediately following the book signings I’m leading free walking tours of the Island, starting at Soissons Dock, where the Manhattan ferry comes lands, at 12:15. By purchasing…
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The Forlorn Landmark YMCA Building Turns 90
With the Island closed to the public until May 28, we’ll take a look at some of the history of Governors Island. Ninety years ago this summer a building opened on the Island to great acclaim and was once one of the most popular on the Island. It has not been in use since President Kennedy was in office and today is boarded-up and closed. This is the Army YMCA, next door to the Fort Jay Theatre, which is also closed to the public. It faces Owasco Road, north of Cartigan Road (N 40.688006 E -74.016971). The first YMCA was built on Governors Island in 1900 to provide a place…
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Take a Free Island History Walking Tour, May 28-29
To celebrate the fourteenth public season of Governors Island opening, there will be free history walking tours on Saturday, May 28, and Sunday, May 29. The walks will meet at 12:15 p.m. at Soissons Dock on the Island (see below). A free walking tour will focus on the three hundred years of island history. Learn about the people and stories that shaped Governors Island. Stops explore the military life, Civil War and World War I events, aviation pioneers, and even where the tiny railroad once ran. The tour is led by Kevin C. Fitzpatrick, author of The Governors Island Explorer’s Guide (Globe Pequot Press). • See 50 locations on the…
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Cypress Hills National Cemetery Walking Tour Nov. 8
Few know that there was once a cemetery on Governors Island. The Army moved all of the graves, almost 500 men, women, and children, to Brooklyn in 1878. For Veterans Day, we are going to visit those graves and the final resting places of many others. The walking tour is free. Sunday, Nov. 8, 12pm-2:00pm Free Children welcome. Meet: 625 Jamaica Avenue Brooklyn, NY 11208 cross street: Hale Avenue By subway: J train to Norwood Avenue, walk northwest 2.5 blocks on Hale Avenue to the front gates. By car: Jackie Robinson Parkway to 625 Jamaica Avenue is the National Cemetery (look for the eagles on the front entrance so you…
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Free Walking Tour Sunday, July 26
A FREE Governors Island Explorer’s Guide Walking Tour will be held on Sunday, July 26, at 11:15 AM. How is my walking tour different from other tours of the island? I’m a licensed New York City Sightseeing Guide who has been leading walking tours since 1999. I’m the author of the upcoming book The Governors Island Explorer’s Guide (Globe Pequot Press), coming soon. It’s the first guidebook about the island. All of the walking tour information is here. It’s free!
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Memorial Day Walking Tour: Explore the Island
The first Governors Island Explorer’s Guide Walking Tour of the season will be on Memorial Day (Monday, May 28) at 2 p.m. It will be free for all veterans and anyone who has the app download. Everyone else $20 each. How is my walking tour different from other tours of the island? I’m a licensed New York City Sightseeing Guide who has been leading walking tours for 13 years. Let me tell you what’s on the walk: See 50 (yes FIFTY) locations on the island History of all Army buildings and Army housing Significance of all fortifications and military use of the island The people that made the island a…
