The Harbor Islands
Liberty, Ellis, and Governors — three islands the Dutch once called the Oyster Islands, each a chapter in the harbor's story of defense and welcome.
In April 1776, hundreds of Continental soldiers and local patriots labored, under the direction of Israel Putnam, in the mud to erect a massive earthen fort on Governors Island's highest ridge, installing forty heavy cannons aimed directly at the shipping lanes. The defense was short-lived. In July 1776 a terrifying fleet of 400 British vessels arrived, turning the harbor into a 'military city' of 32,000 soldiers. When the British army shattered the American lines at the Battle of Brooklyn that August, the isolated garrison on Nutten Island found themselves in a perilous no-man's-land. Acting as a crucial rearguard decoy, they held their post until Washington's miraculous night retreat was complete. Seized immediately by the Crown, the island spent the remainder of the war transformed into a sprawling British military hospital and artillery outpost, its ancient oak and chestnut groves leveled to fuel the redcoat barracks.
At a Glance
- Route
- Ferry-based: Battery Park to Liberty Island, Ellis Island, and Battery Maritime to Governors Island
- Distance
- Walking on each island is 0.5–2 miles
- Duration
- Half-day (Governors Island only) to full day (all three islands)
- Difficulty
- Easy — flat islands; some uneven historic paving on Governors Island
- Best Season
- Governors Island open year-round; Liberty and Ellis peak season May–September
New York Harbor is one of the world's great natural harbors and a vital economic engine. Once known by the Dutch as the 'Oyster Islands,' Liberty, Ellis, and Governors Islands served as the front line of defense long before they became symbols of welcome. To walk these shores is to understand the harbor not just as a scenic vista, but as a military city that determined the survival of the American Revolution.
As an estuary where Atlantic saltwater mixes with freshwater from the Hudson River, the harbor supports a diverse ecosystem. Its tidal range is roughly five to six feet, with ebb currents that can run about one to two knots. Only about 25 percent of the city's original wetlands survive. Water quality has improved dramatically since the Clean Water Act. The Port of New York and New Jersey is now the busiest container port on the U.S. East Coast, and its channels have been deepened to accommodate modern container ships. The waters in proximity to the islands are restricted security zones — private vessels are prohibited from docking.
Liberty Island
Statue of Liberty
Officially Liberty Enlightening the World. A gift from the people of France, dedicated October 28, 1886. Designed by Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi with an iron framework by Gustave Eiffel, she stands 305 feet from ground to torch. Built atop Fort Wood, a star-shaped War of 1812 harbor-defense fort that remains part of the island's historic landscape.
The Torch & Crown
The torch, once an operational lighthouse maintained by the U.S. Lighthouse Service from 1886 to 1902, is no longer open to visitors. Visitors can enter the pedestal and climb to an observation deck; those who reserve a Crown Pass in advance may climb an additional 162 steps to the crown, 260 feet above sea level.
Ellis Island
Ellis Island
Once known as Gibbet Island — named for the gallows where pirates were executed in the colonial era — Ellis Island became the gateway for millions of immigrants to the United States. From 1892 to 1954, it served as the nation's primary immigration station, processing more than 12 million steerage and third-class passengers arriving by steamship. It is estimated that over 40 percent of Americans trace at least part of their ancestry through Ellis Island.
Ellis Island National Museum of Immigration
Housed in a grand French Renaissance-style terminal within the 27.5-acre complex. Features exhibits, restored historic areas, and an interactive History Center for searching immigration records.
nps.gov/elis
Governors Island
Originally called Nut Island by the Dutch for its abundant hickory, oak, and chestnut trees, Governors Island has been a formal military installation since 1794 — Army base, Civil War prison, and U.S. Coast Guard Atlantic Area HQ until 1996. Hosted the 1988 Reagan–Gorbachev summit. Today a car-free, public park with miles of paved paths, historic forts, museums, open lawns, and views of the Statue of Liberty and the Manhattan skyline. Bikes are permitted on the ferry, rentals on-site.
Castle Williams
Circular red sandstone fort (1807–1811) — the first casemated fort in North America. Three-tiered parapets allowed more firepower than earlier designs.
Fort Jay
The oldest existing defensive structure on the island, originally built as earthworks in 1776 and reconstructed as a star-shaped fort in the 1790s under the Second System of U.S. seacoast defense.
Nolan Park & Colonels' Row
Victorian and Romanesque Revival officers' residences. Colonels' Row presents a quiet alignment of former command residences whose architecture reflects military hierarchy — position translated into space and structure.
Outlook Hill
The southern portion of the island, built on landfill created from excavation of the Brooklyn-Battery Tunnel, features the Hammock Grove, Slide Hill, and open lawns with scenic harbor views.
Getting Here
| Stop / Location | Category | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Statue City Cruises | Ferry | Battery Park or Liberty State Park to Liberty & Ellis islands— every 30 minutes |
| Battery Maritime Building | Ferry | Governors Island — 10 South Street |
| Pier 6, Brooklyn Bridge Park | Ferry | Seasonal service to Governors Island |
| Pier 11 / Wall St | Ferry | NYC Ferry to Governors Island |
Community Logs
Photos, ratings, and quick tips from people who've made the trip.
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