A Trip To The Abandoned North Brother Island

Over at The Kingston Lounge, Richard Nickel Jr. has posted some gorgeous photos of North Brother Island—including a brief history lesson and update on the current state of the place, which has been abandoned for 48 years. The island is in the Hell Gate section of the East River, and was once home to "a quarantine hospital that housed Typhoid Mary, was the final destination of the General Slocum during its tragic final voyage, and was the site of an experimental drug treatment program which failed due to corruption."

The hospital on the island was called Riverdale Hospital, and it treated smallpox, venereal diseases, heroin addiction, leprosy... you get the idea. Currently the island and its 12 remaining buildings (and tennis court!) are in a Grey Gardens-esque state, with most New Yorkers unaware that it even exists. Now under the jurisdiction of the Parks Department, it will remain a protected nesting area, off-limits to the general public, and the city currently has no plans to rehabilitate the buildings.

There is also a South Brother Island—purchased by the city in 2007—right next door; together they contain 20.12 acres of land (here's an aerial view). While they're considered a part of the Bronx now, up until the late 1960s they were considered to be a part of Queens County.

Previously: a trip to Bannerman's Island, and Hart Island.

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By Jen Carlson in News on January 14, 2011 3:30 PM

Comments [rss]

AJennyPenny

Anyone else here because of Stuff You Should Know?

ErikBaard

I love North Brother Island and kayak to the area often. But my true love is for serene South Brother Island. Each year we organize a permitted cleanup of South Brother Island. I have tons of photos of the plastic trash accumulating on the island, but here's a view of its beauty: http://picasaweb.google.com/er...

Reader of Things

It is not "abandoned", it is being managed, in some way, as a bird sanctuary. Why do so many artists try to get famous by ruining special places for everyone else? There are like 20 artists with these type of photos, so silly.
True Hell's Gate is VERY DANGEROUS.

Brooklynian1969

Wow, how elitist of you! Personally, I was fascinated by this article, since it's a part of our city that I didn't know anything about, and after reading about it on Gothamist I was inspired to google it and find out more - theres another great gallery at opacity.us. How exactly was this place ruined? I was glad to find out about it.

ErikBaard

You'll also love South Brother Island: http://picasaweb.google.com/er...

ErikBaard

Also, South Brother Island: http://picasaweb.google.com/er...

blindmalice

Does Donald Trump know about this?

Kaatskill05

A photographer talked about the Coast Guard being on and around the island. That and trying to take a kayak or canoe through the current of hells gate is probably why more people don't attempt to go there.

History and photos:
http://www.opacity.us/site100_...
Coast Guard story:
http://www.opacity.us/gallery1...

Professor Von Nostren

Gorgeous shots. It's amazing a place like this can remain abandoned while surrounded by millions of people.

moocowstoo

They don't do interiors like this anymore, it is sad.

nicemarmot

Nice tub.

lornagrl

How come they were able to go there and take photos. Why can't I go? I want to go.

John

I am Jack's memory. This is where I used to live on Paper Street. We made soap there. It's also where Brad Pitt porked my girlfriend right in front of me.

Rod

seriously, why hasn't city hall done anything with this valuable property?

you could build a lot of luxury skyscrapers out there and the rich could afford ferry service.

let us little people live in the city.