Gothamist: Explore Roosevelt Island

Think twice

Wed, 15 Mar 2006 19:44:04 -0500

Roosevelt Island was once the proposed site of a massive beaux-arts civic center. It had to have been inspired by the City Beautiful Movement.

Gina

Tue, 14 Mar 2006 18:35:56 -0500

Hmm, interesting. I lived on Roosevelt Island for a few months. The place has a weird feel to it because it's so incredibly quiet. Also, there's only one street!

CBK

Tue, 14 Mar 2006 16:06:45 -0500

I love investigating out-of-the-way NYC spots, and so went to Roosevelt Island last fall. The tram was amazing. Then after I got off, I was dismayed to find no access to insane asylums or smallpox hospitals, got yelled at by someone who worked in a 5 and Dime, spit at by someone else, and ran for my life to get on the tram by sundown, lest even bigger weirdos attack. The insane asylum would've been safer.

Liza

Tue, 14 Mar 2006 15:13:18 -0500

Here you are: http://www.correctionhistory.org/rooseveltisland/roosevelt_island_tour.html

sim

Tue, 14 Mar 2006 15:09:47 -0500

do you have any details on the free tour?

Liza

Tue, 14 Mar 2006 14:49:10 -0500

I adore Roosevelt Island. A Smallpox hospital AND an insane asylum? Jackpot! How about the bizarre old wooden house that's dwarfed by surrounding apartment buildings? I hope they don't ruin the charm (can I even call it that?) that is that fair isle. They have a self-guided walking tour one can take FOR FREE, although the signage is a bit moldy.

Julian Stein

Tue, 14 Mar 2006 14:41:47 -0500

The tour web pages talk about the General Slocum disaster and Typhoid Mary. I think they've mixed up Roosevelt Island and North Brother Island. North Brother is where the Slocum beached and where Typhoid Mary was imprisoned.

rev pays

Tue, 14 Mar 2006 14:33:42 -0500

Oops, you are taking the tram.

Gunnar Heinrich

Tue, 14 Mar 2006 14:32:33 -0500

Might be worth a visit. Roosevelt island is one of the corners of the City that is referenced little. Governor's island would be worth a visit too for that matter.

rev pays

Tue, 14 Mar 2006 14:30:15 -0500

$25? You get a box lunch with that, right? Or, at least, access to some places that are off limits. But I doubt it, too much liability. And, taking the train and not the tram?

MT

Tue, 14 Mar 2006 14:24:01 -0500

Or if you don't feel like leaving your computer, check out Forgotten NY. There is a pretty amazing page of Roosevelt Island stuff there.

k

Tue, 14 Mar 2006 14:22:02 -0500

$25 bucks?! Check out Take A Walk New York - no tourists, and led by people in the know. Way better. http://www.walkny.org/Step1.html Their website ain't fancy, but the walks are great.

Jen

Tue, 14 Mar 2006 14:20:28 -0500

Ooh, thanks - I got a little confused because of the $25 fee.

datechecka

Tue, 14 Mar 2006 14:00:15 -0500

March 25th isn't this Sunday, it's a week from this Sunday.