This island is home to more than 11,000 residents. It is part of Manhattan’s Community District 8, part of the Upper East Side.
The island is managed by the Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation, a New York State public-benefit corporation.
Features
The island famously uses a vacuum garbage collection system. The system uses timers to control vacuums running to garbage receptacles in every building. This trash is collected underground, compacted, then moved off the island.
The Roosevelt Island Tramway connects Roosevelt Island to Manhattan. There is only one station on each side and the cost is the same as a NYC subway or bus fare, which you can pay with at Metrocard.
Cornell University has a campus called Cornell Tech on the south side of the island. Smallpox Memorial Hospital historic site is south of that, as well as Southpoint Park and FDR Four Freedoms Park.
At the far north end is NYC Health + Hospitals/Coler and Lighthouse Park. Near these on the west side is a river overlook, Roosevelt Island Ship Pier.
The island is also noted for being one of the best spots in New York City to visit when the cherry blossoms are opening up. Roosevelt Island Cherry Blossoms.
History
First purchased in 1637 by Governor Wouter Van Twiller, it was known as Hog Island. Captain John Manning took over in 1666, naming it Manning’s Island. The captain’s son-in-law Robert Blackwell took over in 1686 and it was named Blackwell Island. Today, the historic 1796 Blackwell House serves as a museum for the island.
In the 1800s, the island served home to prisons and hospitals. New York City purchased it in 1828. The lunatic asylum building The Octagon Tower stands today as part of a residential building. In the 1850s, the Smallpox Hospital opened its doors. The Blackwell Island Light (lighthouse) was completed on the north end of the island in 1872.
The Queensboro Bridge was built over the island in 1909 but didn’t have exits here. Though a trolley on the bridge did have a stop here and people took an elevator down to island level. Also, from 1934 to 1955, there was a vehicle lift from the bridge to the island. (source) Because of the various hospitals, asylums, and prisons on the island, it was renamed Welfare Island in 1921. The Welfare Island Bridge opened in 1952. The Roosevelt Island Tramway opened in 1976, the F train connected here in 1989.
In the 21st century, the island has seen its reputation of disease, prisons, and dereliction turned around. Now home to many residents, several businesses, and supporting organizations, the island is a full-fledged neighborhood. The FDR Four Freedoms Park opened in 2012. Cornell Tech started classes in the fall of 2017.
Details
- Website: Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation
- Location: in the East River between Queens and Manhattan
- Hours: all day
- Social:
- Facebook: Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation
- Twitter: Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation
- Instagram: Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation
Access
Roosevelt Island Tramway from Main Street on Roosevelt Island and 60th/2nd Ave in Manhattan.
F Train runs to the island.
The Q102 bus comes from Long Island City and Astoria. Locally, there is the free Red Bus up and down the island.
The NYC Ferry connects on the east side to Astoria.
Maps
