The 2011 public access season on Governors Island has now concluded. Governors Island has now closed for the winter to public access. We will re-open to the general public in late May or early June of 2012. Check back here for an exact date when it becomes available. Guided access to the Island may be available in the month of November. See below for more information. For general information, please call us at 212-825-3045 Monday - Friday.

A Special November Program - Airplanes and Archives

Join us for a 90 minute walking tour/museum activity that explores the history of aviation on Governors Island that allows you the rare chance to interact with a sampe from the Governors Island archives. You'll learn about the contributions of famous flyers such as Wilbur Wright and Ruth Law through newspaper clippings and photographs from the early 20th century. You'll also learn how to handle archival materials and even what to do to keep your own archive!

When: November 4, 11, 18

Time: 10 AM

Cost: Free

Reservations: Required please call us at 212-825-3045 Monday - Friday to make your reservation. Limited to 10 people.

Other opportunities may also be available. Please inquire when you call. 

The Governors Island Ferry is located in the Battery Maritime Building, Slip #7.  The Battery Maritime Building is a large green building and is located southeast of the Staten Island Ferry terminal.  During the season (May 27 - September 25), the building is adorned with blue Governors Island flags. 

Getting to Governors Island:
Taking public transportation is the best way to get to the ferry to Governors Island.  Please click on the links above for more information.  If you need to drive your vehicle to Lower Manhattan, directions and links to off-island parking garages are provided below. 

Driving to Lower Manhattan:
Cars are not permitted on Governors Island.  If you would like to drive to Lower Manhattan in the vicinity of the Battery Maritime Building, you will need to park your car in either a parking garage or on the street.

Please Note: 
In lower Manhattan, on-street parking is extremely difficult to find.  Parking is metered at one-hour intervals. Parking regulations are vigorously enforced and parking tickets are very costly.

• Commercial parking lots and parking garages are available-mostly along South Street, near the South Street Seaport.  More distant parking is available off the West Side Highway and at Battery Park City.
• Click here to search for locations of parking garages in New York City.

Driving Directions from Lower Manhattan: 

1. From the East Side of Manhattan:  FDR south to Exit 1, the Battery Park/Staten Island ferry exit.
2. From the West Side of Manhattan:  Take the West Side Highway/West Street to the FDR and exit at South Street as you emerge from the Battery Park Tunnel. From Midtown, take Broadway to its end in Lower Manhattan.

Information from the 2011 Season:

On Thursdays, take advantage of Exclusive Midweek Guided Access at 10AM and 1PM.

On Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, enjoy a full day of programming.