Roosevelt Island – Rich in History

Roosevelt Island has undergone many transformations since the Dutch occupied the city in the 1600s.

“The island was called Minnehanonck by the Lenape and Varken Eylandt[a] (Hog Island) by the Dutch during the colonial era and later Blackwell's Island. During much of the 19th and 20th centuries, the island was used by hospitals and prisons, with very limited access. It was renamed Welfare Island in 1921. Following several proposals to redevelop Welfare Island in the 1960s, the UDC leased the island, renamed it after former U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1973, and redeveloped it as a series of residential neighborhoods. The first phase of Northtown, the island's first community, was completed in 1974, followed by the second phase (Northtown II) in 1989. Southtown was developed in the early 21st century, along with the Cornell Tech higher-education campus” (Wikipedia).

Let’s have a wander around the island to discover what bits of history still remain. I believe the Smallpox Hospital and Jacob Blackwell’s house, one of the oldest remaining homes in the city still standing. The theme is capturing history through our own perspective.

We will meet outside the Roosevelt Island subway station at 3:00pm. Look forward to strolling the island with you!