EVENTS brick and stone and stained-glass TRANSPORTATION: windows. Frederick Clarke Withers The Roosevelt Getting To And From The Island From outdoor movie screenings to theatrical productions, recre- built the chapel in 1889 to serve the ational activities to festivals, RIOC sponsors events for the public residents of the many Welfare Island TRAM: all year round. For more information on upcoming events on the almshouses that were constructed for Island Walking New York’s destitute in the 1850s. The The most modern aerial tramway in the world, providing breath- Island, please visit http://rioc.ny.gov/upcomingevents.htm. chapel was restored in 1975 and now taking, runs every 15 minutes from 59th Street and Second Av- serves as a community center. enue in Manhattan to Roosevelt Island. Metrocards are accepted. Tour LANDMARKS The two-mile-long Island boasts a rich history and 6 amazing land- Blackwell House ISLAND HISTORY SUBWAY: marks. The F line links Roosevelt Island with Manhattan and Queens. With six designated landmarks on the National Historic Register, Built in 1796 for the Blackwell family who Roosevelt Island is an integral part of New York City’s history. Lighthouse owned the Island for many genera- From the 1600’s to the 1800’s, ownership passed from the Canar- tions, the Blackwell House is one of CITY BUSES: Above the waters of the East River sie Indians to the Dutch, then to English farmer Robert Blackwell, the oldest farmhouses in New York The Q102 MTA bus circles the Island and connects passengers and finally to the City of New York. In the 1800’s, the City built at the northernmost stretch of Roo- City. The exterior of the modest co- to Queens. eight hospitals and “asylums” on the Island, which became home sevelt Island, shines the fifty-foot-high lonial home has been refurbished, and to the chronically ill, mentally disabled and destitute. However, by Lighthouse. Designed by James Ren- there are plans to renovate the inte- RED BUS: wick, Jr., the Lighthouse was built in the 1950’s, with notions of treatment changing, most of the City’s rior. Once complete, Blackwell House The Red Bus, which costs a $0.25, and makes stops throughout institutions were abandoned. 1872 by inmates of the penitentiary will be used as a community center as the Island. with stone quarried on the Island. well as for periodic historical tours. In 1969, New York State Urban Development Corporation CAR: (UDC) was granted a 99-year lease by the City to develop and Octagon Strecker Laboratory operate the Island. The Island was re-imagined when architects The Roosevelt Island Bridge can be accessed at 36th Avenue and Built in 1892, the Strecker Laboratory Philip Johnson and John Burgee, joined with UDC and others In 1839 the New York Lunatic Asylum, Vernon Boulevard in Queens. Visitor parking is available at the was the first laboratory in the coun- to design an innovative, mixed income, traffic limited, residential which featured the Octagon Tower, Motorgate Garage. try devoted exclusively to pathological community with visual access to the water. In 1973, the Island was was built with granite mined from the and bacteriological research. Currently, renamed in honor of President Franklin D. Roosevelt. In 1984, the Island. It was one of the first institu- the building serves as the power con- Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation (RIOC) was created as tions for the treatment of the men- version station for the E and V subway a state public benefit corporation, succeeding UDC in operating OTHER VISITOR INFORMATION tally ill in America. Today, the landmark lines. and developing the Island. is housed in a luxury residential com- plex that features the largest solar Smallpox Hospital (Renwick Ruin) Visitors Center: Roosevelt Island Historical Society Kiosk, at For more on the island’s history, visit panel in the City and the first fuel cell the foot of Tram, Island side: http:// www.rihs.us, www.rioc.ny.gov/history.htm Designed by James Renwick, Jr., the to power a residential building in New (212) 688-4836. Smallpox Hospital was built in 1856 York. The site is open to visitors. and was the first hospital in the coun- Roosevelt Island’s Main Street retail corridor is home to a variety Emergencies: Roosevelt Island Public Safety Office is located try to receive smallpox patients. Once of restaurants, shops and other businesses that meet the needs at 552 Main Street, (212) 832-4545, and is open 24 hours a day. Good Shepherd Community Center a successful vaccine was implemented of residents and visitors alike. For a listing of the names, descrip- in the late 1800s, the hospital was tions and locations for businesses on the island, please visit Good Shepherd Community Center is a historic chapel that is Public Restrooms: Located at the Roosevelt Island Tram, closed. The hospital’s ivy-colored medi- hhtp://rioc.ny.gov/businesslistings.htm characterized by a multicolor effect produced by mixed use of Southpoint Park, Octagon Park and Lighthouse Park. eval-type ruin is located in Southpoint Park.
Brought to you by the Roosevelt Island Andrew Cuomo, Governor Darryl C. Towns, Board Chair Person Visit us online at rioc.ny.gov or call (212) 832-4540 Operating Corporation of the State of New York Donald D. Lewis, Acting President and CEO Join us on facebook at www.facebook.com/RIOCNY Lighthouse Park OTHER SITES TO VISIT R
Western Promenade, Pier Coler-Goldwater Hospital and the Meditation Steps North Campus Roosevelt
The Pier, the Promenade and the Med- R itation Steps north of the Pier, offer a Tennis Courts peaceful setting to watch boats in the Restrooms Food Island East River and the Manhattan skyline. Community Garden
Main Street Octagon Soccer Field Landmarks Transportation R NYC Main Street was designed as the “spine” of the original Roosevelt Is- Motorgate Parking land residential community, providing Garage R retail and community space. Designed Roosevelt Island Tram Queens The Lighthouse to maximize river views from the Roosevelt Island Bridge
buildings, it echoes a walled medieval Capobianco Field city. RIOC Red Bus
Southpoint Park The Octagon Bus Route - Southbound
Southpoint Park surrounds the Small- R Bus Route - Northbound pox Hospital (Renwick Ruin). Located Blackwell Rivercross Park at the southern end of the Island, it Lawn F The Church of offers an ideal spot to view Manhattan, F Subway Stop Queens and the East River, and serves the Good Shepherd as the gateway to the Four Freedoms F Riverwalk Commons Park. Roosevelt Island Bridge
Fire ghters Field Blackwell House Four Freedoms Park Manhattan Visitor Tram Kiosk R Station Roads & Parks
R.I. Racquet Club The Island’s southern-most tip is the Roosevelt Island Tram Sportspark site of Four Freedoms Park and a me- MAP AND SELF-GUIDED TOUR morial to President Franklin D. Roo- Strecker Laboratory sevelt. Opened in October 2012, the Coler-Goldwater Hospital Park is one of the last works designed South Campus by the famed architect Louis I. Kahn. Brought to you by the The Renwick Ruins Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation For more information visit of the State of New York www.rioc.ny.gov R
Southpoint Openspace
N 591 Main Street
E Visit us online at rioc.ny.gov W
Franklin D. Roosevelt or call (212) 832-4540 S Four Freedoms Park