• 16th Infantry Regiment, Fort Jay, New York City, 1938.

    Governors Island

    National Monument New York

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  • Governors Island closed July 4th

    The island will be closed on July 4th and no National Park Service tours or programs will take place that day. NPS weekday ranger tours and programs will still be offered on Wednesday, July 3rd and Friday July 5th.

  • Phone number change

    Hurricane Sandy destroyed the island's telephone connections to Manhattan. Our temporary information number for the park is now via cell phone at 646-241-2670. Other contact information can be found at www.nps.gov/gois/contacts. More »

Civil War 150th Anniversary

Castle Williams Casemate in the Civil War

A rendering of a casemate in Castle Williams as it appeared in the early 19th century

The approaching 150th Anniversary of the American Civil War (2011-2015) offers the current generation of Americans a most important opportunity to know, discuss, and commemorate this country's greatest national crisis, while at the same time exploring its enduring relevance in the 21st century.

In preparation for the Sesquicentennial, the National Park Service-through the collective efforts of the superintendents at Civil War-related parks- has undertaken a multi-faceted, multi-year, integrated program that will simultaneously transform and improve interpretation of the Civil War. Please check out the links below to learn more about this crossroads of the American story and how our park will be offering programs to support it.

Causes

Castle Williams and the Civil War

Civil War Enlistment

Irish Soldiers in the Union Army

Did You Know?

Castle Williams

Castle Williams, named after its designer, Colonel Jonathan Williams upon its completion in 1811, was alternately known only as "The Tower."