Governors Island National Monument • New York

Bridge over dry moat leading into a gated fort.

Front of sandstone brick fort with arched entrance way.

A park ranger talking to a group of visitors inside a large stone room in a fort.

Manhattan Skyline stands behind the barracks of Fort Jay

Canon and Manhattan Skyline from top of castle

From 1794 to 1966, the U.S. Army presence on Governors Island played a vital role in the social, political, and economic life of New York City. The island then served as the headquarters of the U.S. Coast Guard from 1966 to 1996, continuing its legacy of national service. Today, Governors Island has transformed into a destination for art, culture, and public programs.

An early spring morning view of Fort Jay. The gate house is the oldest structure on Governors Island dating back to 1794.
NPS photo / Michael B. Shaver

Castle Williams at Governors Island National Monument was constructed in 1811 and was a pioneering design in American fortifications.
NPS photo / Katherine Moscowitch

Ranger-led tours of Castle Williams show the pioneering features of fortification architecture that would be used in other masonry forts constructed in the 1800s.
NPS photo / Katherine Moscowitch

History frames our understanding of the present
NPS Photo / Sierra Willoughby

A civil war era canon sitting upon the top of Castle Williams juxtaposes the new and old, with the glimering shine of Manhattan in the background
NPS Photo / Sierra Willoughby