South Island Field at Governors Island Schedule

Did You Know?

The two forts are among the best remaining examples of First System (Fort Jay) and Second System (Castle Williams) American coastal fortification.During the American Civil War, Castle Williams held Confederate prisoners of war and Fort Jay held captured Confederate officers.

Activities included free National Park Service walking tours of the island, bike riding, picnicking, art installations, fairs, festivals, and concerts.The Smothers Brothers were both born on Governors Island in New York Harbor, where their father, Thomas B.Smothers, a West Point graduate and U.S.Army officer, was stationed.Janet Lambert, an author of young adult fiction, resided on Governors Island while her husband was the post commander in the 1950s.Lois Lowry, author of The Giver, lived on Governors Island during her high school years while her father, an army dentist, was stationed there.The Richard Preston novel The Cobra Event has a biosafety field lab located on the island.David Wellington's zombie novels Monster Island and Monster Planet feature Governors Island as a human safe haven in a zombie-infested world.Governors Island was featured in the game Freedom Fighters, in which it was the seat of power for the Soviet Armed Forces which had invaded the United States.

After the war, Castle Williams was used as a military stockade and became the east coast counterpart to military prisons at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas and Alcatraz Island, California.In 1878, the military installation on the island, then known collectively as Fort Columbus, became a major Army administrative center.

The Alliance publishes a monthly electronic newsletter that provides the latest information on Island happenings.

The school is the island's first tenant and opens in 2010.

More than 200 entries from students, faculty, and landscape architects in 14 different countries were received.