The Other Islands of New York City: A History and Guide

by Sharon Seitz, Stuart Miller

This second edition features new information on Governor's and Ellis Islands. Experience a New York City most tourists, and even most natives, never see. Within the city's boundaries are dozens of islands―some famous, like Ellis, some infamous, like Rikers, and others forgotten, like North Brother. While the spotlight often falls on the museums, trends, and restaurants of Manhattan, the city's "other" islands, each with its own personality, offer the day-tripper everything from nature trails to military garrisons to sailing excursions. This detailed guide and comprehensive history to forty islands tells their colorful, often lurid stories, and will give you a sense of how New York City's politics, population, and landscape have evolved over the last three and a half centuries. Full of offbeat stories and little-known facts and legends, this is much more than a travel guide. 22 black & white photographs, 10 maps

Genres: New York, History, Travel, Nonfiction

288 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 2001

Reviews

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great adventure book! This book is a handy guide to the many forgotten islands around Manhattan, Staten Island, and Long Island, four of the main five islands that make up NYC (with the Bronx of course not being an island, but the only part of the metropolis that is part of the US mainland). It is simply written, perhaps a bit in the style of a social history but without the historical or archival feel. So in other words, I think it has a 'social history' approach in that a good deal of the narrative focuses on the human side of each place. There is so much interesting life outside the obvious places and getting even a little hint of the landfilled places around NYC is a great service this book provides readers. I am looking forward to start taking some of the trips laid out in the book.

[Scott Benowitz · Rating 5 out of 5]

New York City has been one of the most populous as well as one of the most densely populated cities in the entire world for more than 100 years now.. And many people fail to notice that among the millions of people who are living in, working in and traveling through New York City every day, there are quite a few small uninhibited islands located in the Harlem River, the East River, the Hudson River, the Long Island Sound as well as in New York Harbor.
For everyone who is interested in the history of New York City, this book explores an aspect of the history of the city which is frequently overlooked.

[Asher · Rating 5 out of 5]

So many places to visit or not visit, but wish that I could.

[Joe Rousmaniere · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lots of wading herons on those islands!

[Kristina Watts · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read in preparation for trip to NYC. Only read the relevant chapters.

[Donny Nelson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read about the history of all the little islands around New York. I didn't even know some of these islands existed and the history was fascinating.

[Marci · Rating 3 out of 5]

O.k., honestly, I didn't get very far into this book. Is it interesting to read about Gouvenor's Island? Yes. Is it fun summer reading, no, not really. I don't remember the exact number but I think there are something like 34 islands around New York. I'm definitely interested in the subject, I just couldn't engage with the book. I guess it's something I'll have to try again later.

That being said, I was supremely interested in the General Slocum disaster (there's a monument to the people who were killed right behind our house). I don't know if I've heard of such pure negligence in any other fiasco of that size. Out of 1,358 people on the boat 1,021 died! I've copied the pages into a word document so I could remember it when I go back to visit the monument again.

[Emma Winona · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a really fascinating book with a lot of cool information in it but something about the writing style makes it a somewhat slow read. Because I love the geography and cultural history of my city I found this really interesting; I learned a lot about stuff I'd never even heard of before, like Hart's Island or the history of Rikers' Island. However, I think another edition should probably be published as I don't think this one addressed Hurricane Sandy which would be a piece of information that would be interesting to add to it. Overall I would mostly recommend this if you, like me, are a nerd who loves esoteric facts about New York geography, but I'm sure there's a curious tourist out there who would enjoy it.

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm giving this four stars mostly because the information therein can't be found anywhere else (not even on wikipedia, I don’t think). While not beautifully written, it will make you want to fetch a rowboat and head to Hart Island to dig up some indigent zombies. Make like Cuomo and put it on your “books about New York City” shelf.

[Judy Gacek · Rating 5 out of 5]

A book I will not read cover to cover but will browse through and use as a guide if I visit the city. Doubt few know of the islands or have visited them other than Staten, Coney, and Ellis. The authors cover the history of the islands, how to get there and if there is a place to eat. A few are preserves which would provide a nice change from the city.

[M. Daniel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an excellent adventure guide as well as a history of the development of New York City area. I've taken some of the trips suggested in the book and thoroughly enjoyed myself. Whether an armchair explorer or an outdoors adventurer,I highly recommend this book!

[Dirk · Rating 4 out of 5]

Worth reading for any student of the history of NYC. Also a fairly-decent travel guide for current-day residents. Best chapters are Govornor's, Roosevelt's, and Riker's islands. Conversational tone makes this books fairly readable.

[Matthew Flannery · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun. Interesting. Somewhat. Some islands are really boring but had to be added to complete the task. But it kept moving well so it didn't get tiring. I did skim a bit. Worth it for less than $10.