There are days when I can’t imagine ever leaving this area. Then I read the Travel section of the New York Times and I can’t imagine ever staying in this area. But then I spend a random Saturday wandering around an abandoned military installation overrun for the day with artsy hippies, and I know I’ll never leave.
Speaking of artsy (or not), pop on over to Craftastrophe today to see the beautiful accessory I’m suggesting Bridezilla wear instead of a veil. See? I’m always looking out for Gwen. Further proof that I’m the Best Old Married Hag of Honor, EVER.
Why the hell didn’t anyone tell me about Governor’s Island earlier?!? Sure, I’d seen it floating out there just to the left of the Liberty Bitch (as I affectionately call her), but I never really gave it much thought. You Brooklynites have been holding out on me.
Here’s the story for those of you that have no idea what the hell I’m even talking about. There’s this island, about a mile in length just chillin’ in the bay off the tip of Manhattan. By the time I moved to NYC it had already been abandoned. But apparently it served as a military base for two centuries, beginning with the US Army claiming the island in 1783 after ousting the Brits.
The Army built two (now landmarks) fortifications, Castle Williams and Fort Jay prior to the War of 1812. During the Civil War, the Army used those forts to hold captured prisoners. After that, I don’t really understand what the Army did with the place, but it remained in their hands until 1966 when the US Coast Guard set up shop on the island. Then those guys ran away a mere 30 years later, leaving the island abandoned until they agreed to sell the majority of the island to the state of New York for a whopping $1. (Coincidentally, that’s probably what my apartment is going to sell for if St. Joe doesn’t step it up a notch.)
I’m not sure who constructed all the beautiful buildings – I guess it must have been the Army – but it seems downright tragic for them to have been left abandoned out there. I was there to experience Figment, but I continually found myself hypnotized by the history and beauty of our surroundings.
We’d pop into buildings to view installations, and I’d get lost in the crown molding, the high ceilings, the flaking plaster, the ancient light switches, the rippled glass, the inlaid wooden floors. For an instant I thought, “I could live here. Do I really need potable water and the ability to leave the island anytime other than weekends in the summer? Rocco could always ride a jetski to speed up the commute.” Maybe this real estate stuff is starting to get to me.
We decided to leave the festival briefly, and walk the loop around the perimeter of the island. We found an old map of the installations. They had a swimming pool, a bowling alley, a library, a golf course, a movie theater. They even had a Burger King. My brain is still swimming with daydreams of what life must have been like on that island.
Every time I pulled out my camera to snap a picture I thought, “Man I would love to see what Bridget could do with this place.” I don’t have her mad skills, but here are a handful of shots of from the place that is currently haunting my little mind.
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I would love to explore those places. I love to roam around old abandoned houses and other places. Like stepping back into time.
.-= Holly B´s last blog ..It’s Okay, Im With The Band =-.
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If only Thom had created a distraction so I could jump the chain-link fence like I asked him to!
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I remember seeing that island when I was in NYC for my birthday last summer, and I totally wanted to go, but we didn’t have time. So very jealous. It looks beautiful.
.-= Bridget Callahan´s last blog ..Da da Da da Da da Da da da da DUM =-.
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Come back and I’ll pack the bolt cutters.
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Those pictures are so neat. I kind of want to check out Gov’s Island for myself now.
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You should! And it’s free!
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I really just see one thing when I see abandoned buildings. Total makeout opportunity!!
.-= Wicked Shawn´s last blog ..Mysterious Absence =-.
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Girl I hope you are up to date on your tetanus shots…
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commune! but could we have a chipolte instead of a burger king?
great pics, elly. kind of reminds me of the eastern state penitentiary here in philly. i love art installations in old abandoned compounds like that.
.-= pattypunker´s last blog ..plastic joy award =-.
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Totally! I say we install a margarita machine too, but it’s going to be hard to make ice with no water. Shit. If we can’t drink the water, we’ll just have to live on wine!
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Screw Governor’s Island! I want one pair each of those sunglasses! What great “WTF? stocking stuffers” they’ll make in December . . . .
.-= Debra She Who Seeks´s last blog ..Super Model of the World =-.
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You’re going to screw an entire island? Oh wait, it’s uninhabited. That’s actually not that impressive after all. Now I’m just disappointed in you.
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I just realized this could be a sneaky “personality test”! Because I think of the potential of finding mass graves left over by some undiscovered serial killers when I think of abandoned buildings while Wicked Shawn thinks of making out. *sigh* I wish I could live inside her head. Or yours.
.-= subWOW´s last blog ..Sundays In My City =-.
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Well there’s plenty of room in mine since I don’t seem to keep much in there…well, other than random vagina facts.
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Can we all run away there and live happily ever after pretty please? I will draft a letter to P!nk to see if she can join us… for my pleasure ONLY you understand. You, Patty, Shawn and Debra… and me and P!nk. What do ya reckon?
.-= Eternally Distracted´s last blog ..I love you all, like an enormous racing heart and stupendous flowers =-.
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DUDE. Can we at least watch?
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