Why New York’s Secret Government Island Has No Inhabitants

[@wildfood1]

I was there in the Coast Guard for three months in 1987. You could drink milkshakes from their Burger King while sitting alone in the middle of a soccer field, gazing at the nighttime Manhattan skyline highlighted by the Twin Towers. No matter how much money you had, you could not pay for that experience.

[@juddlentz1115]

That sounds fantastic

[@Mr.Robert1]

Yes for a point in my life I was living in Staten Island and working in downtown Manhattan right by the World Trade Center on Nassau Street in the financial district. When I had extra time I used to take the ferry from Staten Island to downtown passing the Statue of Liberty seeing the New York skyline on the way to work and at night on the way back yes that was definitely an amazing view. That was the reason I went back in the Air Force after the Saudis decided that it was their job to take down the too buildings where my brother and brother-in-law worked I decided to serve another 8 years and support troops on the ground.

[@JCNY718]

My father was a firefighter on the island up until he retired In 2001. I can confirm that Burger King was a godsend as a kid. Used to go to a pool on the island then BK after. 4th of July on the island was always great as well.

[@johnpentony]

Why Burger King?

[@Mr.Robert1]

@@johnpentony His childhood memory of being with his dad then going to BK for a bite to eat. That's what it sounds like to me.

[@michaelmcguire9804]

I grew up on Governors Island. Moved off the base back in 1990. ( pop retired ). Moved to Staten Island. Now I’m upstate NY. Went back to the base last year with my spouse for a visit. Major changes everywhere!!! I’ve always said, if I could go back I would in a heart beat. The best place growing up as a child!

[@pisces1017]

I was there then as well, such a wonderful place to grow up.

[@frankmarcia5956]

i was stationed at Governors island while i was in the US Coast Guard. it was a great place to be stationed at . we had great base housing highrise apartment buildings and the views were fantastic.it was a very quiet place and hard to believe how close we were to all the great broadway shows over in Manhatten. the ferry ride to and from the island was fantastic and after a night out at Times Square we would pick up a pizza at the ferry terminal. i was on the island from 1965 to 1967 with the COTP Port Security.

[@Amethyst_Dragon_]

Thank you for your service 💖

[@josephkanowitz6875]

ב''ה, was great to see how well DoD treated veterans back then.

[@scootertrash911]

I loved being stationed there.

[@mrbibstoo]

I too, was fortunate to have spent 9 weeks of my life on the island in 1974 attending the USCG ATON (Aids to Navigation) school and the cheese pizza served from the ferry terminal was the best I've ever had. 😉

[@184Ridgerunner]

A-School in 1978. Got to admit, it was a unusual little safe zone in big ole' NYC. How bout walking the fire watch thru the attics of the old buildings.

[@heatherreilly6595]

I had friends who lived in Governers Island because their dads were stationed there. It closed when I was like a Junior in high school, and I remember hearing how heartbreaking it was for those who lived there when the community got upended

[@holton345]

I was a member of the US Army Band of New York City, stationed (at that time) at Fort Hamilton in Brooklyn. This was for three years (1986-1988). We performed ceremonial music at Governor's Island Coast Guard Station on a semi-regular basis, and I *loved* taking the ferry out there. It was like an oasis after the ceaseless sounds and lights of Manhattan and Brooklyn. We played many ceremonies and concerts leading up to the reopening of the Statue of Liberty in July 1986. President Reagan's reviewing stand and the main stage for the televised ceremony were at the western shore of the south end of the island (which has a fantastic view of the statue). I used to love exploring (as much as was permitted) the old fortresses of the area, including Fort Wadsworth on Staten Island, just across the narrows from Fort Hamilton, the two fortifications on Governor's Island, Fort Totten in Queens, and Fort Hamilton itself. It was a great time to live (and be stationed) there. I miss it just about every day. I was sad when the USCG handed it over. That was a beautiful base, just like the photos in this video. Thanks for posting this video.

[@petermann8214]

thank you for sharing this story!

[@coreybrothersyt4705]

I'm no reading all of that

[@sanddabz5635]

Sounds like it was a great and special time in your life! Cool story🙂

[@holton345]

@@coreybrothersyt4705 I'm no caring.

[@coreybrothersyt4705]

@@holton345 who ask

[@PandaBear62573]

I enjoyed Governor's Island like 15 years ago before it was built up as a tourist attraction. It was a great relaxing place to hang out, have a picnic, and just relax. No one knew it was there. The ferry was free then. My kids would beg to go there almost every weekend in the summer months. Now it's been built up so much as a tourist attraction, it's crowded.

[@sct4040]

Everything in NYC is now a paid attraction when once it was free. Such a terrible shame. The Entrepe (spelling ?) was one. My hubby and I went to many free or low cost attractions when dating in the 80s.

[@dilliam1702]

@@sct4040 Gov Island is still free, lol. They just turned it into a large park with some other amenities.

[@americanwelder9865]

Thank you for your service!

[@GraveTender333]

Come

[@GraveTender333]

It being a tourist spot. Helps a agenda from long ago. place actual fact surround today event that are infecting our now's, what to

[@robertbalderson4502]

Our son was born in the hospital there in 1959.

[@n8spectacular]

I was there two weeks ago and I go there often. It's great. I highly recommend it. I've been a regular visitor since 2008.

[@jamesadams4905]

While in the US Coast Guard, during the early 80's late 70's I attended many different training classes. All the technical training schools were eventually relocated to California. I have many happy memories of my time there. I'm an avid bicyclist, and enjoyed riding the circuit around the island. The big controversy involving Burger King moving onto the island. Had a bird's eye view of the spectacular fireworks display during the Brooklyn Bridge's centennial celebration. Many snowball fights with the kids from the elementary school located across the street from the barracks. Waking up to the spectacular view of the Statue of Liberty. So many memories.

[@americanwelder9865]

Thank you for your service!

[@SCRB1GR3D98]

And those are the kind of memories you can't buy.

[@unkownblssngs]

I had forgotten they put a burger king on the island it was after i left in 75. My dad was one if not the one organizing cooking bbq for all celebration days like CGday, 4th, i always had a blast. Thanks for sharing and your Service.

[@dennisdriscoll7830]

Failed to mention that the origin al island was only 1/3 its current size. The remainder is landfill from the original subway excavation!

[@Sedgewise47]

Yeah-back then, there was none of that “environmental impact” BS that serves to hamstring so much development these days…

[@ag1382]

I believe it was the fill from the Battery Tunnel, not subways.

[@samanthab1923]

Like Battery Park. All built on landfill

[@Cryptonymicus]

@@Sedgewise47 Yeah, back then you could literally poison millions of people and get away with it and so much the better if you made a buck because that's what capitalism is all about lol.

[@SuikodenGR]

This

[@mrbibstoo]

I too, was fortunate to have spent 9 weeks of my life on the island in 1974 attending the USCG ATON (Aids to Navigation) school and the cheese pizza served from the ferry terminal was the best I've ever had. 😉

[@thinkingguy9085]

I was an Army "Brat" in the 60s and my father was assigned to HQ, First Army. I have many fond memories of GI and the many friends I made among other "Brats". All the High School students took the GI Ferry to Manhattan then the Staten Island Ferry to Curtis High School on SI. I was generally a "good boy", but I will now admit that I was one of the Island "gang" who occasionally stuffed the barrel of the evening salute gun with feathers and golf balls and hide my smile as feathers filled the air and golf balls sprayed NYC harbor.

[@chrisstaples703]

You should be prosecuted for attempted manslaughter.

[@chrislongbeard]

I stayed 2 nights with my Boy Scout troop in the barracks in 1994. The bowling alley was still open along with the PX.

[@samanthab1923]

Supposedly they had their own movie theater too

[@Guspech750]

Great video. I have never heard of Governors Island. Awesome material. Thanks for posting.

[@cxb262]

My Dad was stationed there as an O-2 back in the late 70s. I was a preschooler, and remember enjoying the ferry rides back and forth to Manhattan, and having the Statue of Liberty right outside our quarters window (the area Reagan stood outside of during the '86 Statue relighting ceremony). Wish I could have gone back before all the housing was torn down to see it again as an adult.

[@lindaashbrook6789]

Great show. So professional.

[@Bob61944]

I was on the island waiting for the ferry in 1965 when all the power went out in NY city. Was sort of neat seeing all the lights go off and only car lights too see. Until we were told we couldn’t get off the island till the tide came it as the ramps to the ferry weren’t working. Took four hours to get home.

[@Bob61944]

@Williams Susan I’m doing great for my age I guess. 😀

[@Bob61944]

@Williams Susan I’m enjoying the nice weather.

[@bustermot]

It's funny that nothing has changed. Those ferry ramps can still be thrown off by excessive tides or power issues. Good story.

[@JAGBRG]

Former art/video teacher at 104 and had many students from GI which gave me and my classes access to Visit GI, bowling alleys and PX. We had lots of fun wandering around the island and invited to one of the officers home who gave us a tour. Fond memories🌺

[@benchandler5809]

Great video I saw that island when I went to the Statue of Liberty but had no idea what it was but noticed from afar the fortifications and it had peaked my curiosity but had totally forgot about it till now watching this very fascinating

[@rwalker382]

I worked on G.I. for 16 years 1987 to 2003 with the Police Department, I was one of the groups of people who had stay behind as caretakers for G.I. it was like a huge ghost town there... so sad 😪

[@SuikodenGR]

As a NYC Resident that work just a few blocks and 1 ferry ride away from the Island, it truly is an amazing place to get away from the noisy city but not too far away. Plenty of event occur here - Roaring 20s Era events Halloween Events Food Cart Events Etc. Plenty of stuff to do here for all ages.

[@AverytheCubanAmerican]

Even the forgotten borough Staten Island is of Revolutionary War importance. On the southern end of Staten Island (which is also the southernmost point of New York state) is a very interesting spot called the Conference House. It was the site of the failed Staten Island Peace Conference where Ben Franklin, John Adams, and Admiral Lord Howe met to discuss a peaceful end for the Revolutionary War on September 11, 1776 (coincidence? I think NOT). Because Lord Howe didn't have the power to recognize the colonies' independence (since he is not the king), the conference failed after just THREE HOURS and the British resumed their military campaign to control the city. Which of course, prompted the Continental Army to continue on the fight for the greater good.

[@ag1382]

Fort Wadsworth

[@stinker43]

You need to do a similar vid of San Francisco fortifications: Angel Island (AKA Ellis Island West), The Presidio (and its pet cemetary for Army pets), Alcatraz (prison and 1st lighthouse on the West Coast), and coastal gun fortifications (still in place since the Civil War in some spots).

[@Philip02K]

I was in coast guard auxiliary and was a paramedic for city. I often went on cutters to help with medical stuff. I worked with rescue divers who also were state medics. Floyd Bennet field was my favorite site. But Burger King that had a bear tap and a bowling alley, that was something else. 😊

[@kevnjeanne]

I was stationed there from 1969-1973 with the USCG. I worked at AMVER a computerized seach and rescue center. I have a lot of fond memories there. We ( wife and I ) lived at Ft. Hamilton but I commuted to Govenor's Island for work. The building is still standing on the right in your video as you come off the ferry.

[@SupremeLeaderKimJong-un]

The Lenape: We call this island Paggank The Dutch: Got it! So we'll call it Noten Eylandt British colonials: *Hehe, Nutten Island* British governors: ...we should change this before it gets out of hand. This island would make a prime location for a secret headquarters of ours to watch Americans and promote Juche ideals

[@Johny40Se7en]

Wonderful video. One of my favourite computer games is called Freedom Fighters, which takes place in an alternate timeline where Soviets win WWII and then decades later invade New York. It features mostly Manhattan and Brooklyn, but the later levels are set on a snowy atmospheric Governor's Island, and I had no idea that Fort Jay really existed 😯

[@edwinpillay1409]

Iam Yellow Cab Driver since 86 straight out of Africa and still love living in# Our City NYC. and driving, learning and enjoying Our City NYC.

[@nordisk1874]

I can’t imagine how they got there in canoes? Maybe only at slack tide? Cause you still had the rapids at hells gate, and the tides are so strong through the east river. When we brought barges over there we had to keep it in gear to offload. Great video as always. Would love Gardners Island video and the very interesting history of it, Plum and the gulls. The only lordship left in the US.

[@samanthab1923]

I remember Lion Gardiner growing up. My grandparents bought a place in East Hampton when my mom was in HS. 50’s. Still private. Might be some tours on YT. Nothing new though. Plum is highly protected. Off limits. Supposedly where Lyme disease came from

[@katrinahutcherson474]

I lived there from 1992 to 1996 when CG operations stopped. My children went to the elementary school on the island, and they loved growing up there. The view for 4th of July fireworks was amazing!!

[@mr.wright4447]

My family went there to visit my Uncle and his family. He was in the Coast Guard. I remember lying in my cousin’s bed which had a terrific view out the window of the Statue of Liberty. What a view! They lived in a high rise apartment, which I can’t remember. Only the view out that bedroom window. It was in the 70’s.

[@pisces1017]

That was bldg 877. I lived on the 2nd floor which was the 1st floor of residences. It was a 2 story residence and the top floor was our living space. Wall to Wall windows of the statue and lower Manhattan.

[@lawrencelassiter7208]

I was stationed there from 1980 to 1985. Best gig I ever had in the USCG !!! I loved GI and proud to say I lived there for 5 years

[@capt.k4608]

Attended the USCG National Search & Rescue School on GI three weeks as an O-3 in 1983. What a great experience. Sailed into New York Harbor on EAGLE in 1986 for Operation Sail- the Rededication of the Statue of Liberty. GI served as Command Center. Saddened when the USCG decided to leave this special place. Retired USCG Captain.

[@mariosanchez7065]

Great job, thank you very much

[@SuperQdaddy]

When nyc took possession of island 2003 i was stationed there with fire dept as a security post in case of any fires..it was in transition and empty ghost town...today it has become a park and tourist attraction with concerts etc...a very special historic place indeed ...good informative video

[@bustermot]

I heard the Firemen at first thought it would be a lame post, then realized it was probably the best out there.

[@LMays-cu2hp]

Thank you for sharing.

[@midwestmike613]

Looks like an amazing place to visit while in NYC. Kind of reminds me of a couple islands I grew up by as a kid South Bass and Johnsons Island. Both used in the same wars as similar outpost obviously not as vital but similar back stories. Also beautiful locations especially in the summer months. Great video as usual 👏

[@ag1382]

I was stationed there 1972 to 1975 assigned to Commander Third Coast Guard District. Lived on Staten Island and rode the Staten Island and Coast Guard Governors Island ferry every morning and evening.

[@jackbarnhill9354]

I was a child there in 1963-64. Went to public school 26. Great place to grow up.

[@remarkymarkable]

I was stationed there as a 2nd class Coast Guard Petty Officer for two years, including the year of our nation's bicentennial. I will never forget the Tall Ships celebration and fireworks display seen from the absolute "best seat in the house"; Beautiful Governor's Island. Winters were miserable there though, the winds were relentless.

[@TheCheffydave]

BRAVO! EXCELLENT VIDEO!! Earned you a subscribe!

[@donalddodson7365]

Very interesting. Thank you, Ryan.

[@Lunerlander]

There's also a public High school on there called New York Harbor School, I graduated before they moved to the island tho.

[@F1083]

wow a secret island!! That anyone can visit and tour the museums. Thanks for the info. Hopefully you can also cover the secret park in central New York city some day.

[@criticaltheories5222]

Ha Ha Ha

[@lylecoglianese1645]

@F1083, wait ….. there’s a PARK in CENTRAL New York City?? What’s the name of that place?? 🤷🏼‍♂️🤔

[@F1083]

@@lylecoglianese1645 If I tell you then it won't be a secret. Then this channel won't be able to make a video about it and they wont get any money from youtube resulting in the collapse of the world economy resulting in billions starving creating a situation where cannibalism becomes the norm.

[@lylecoglianese1645]

@@F1083, good point! After Hunter, you’re the smartest guy I know! 🤪 I don't want to be responsible for the downfall of the planet! I have forgotten what we were discussing already. 🤷🏼‍♂️ Wait .... I see flashing lights and a lot of yelling outside - oh no….. now the door just got kicked in. I think ……..late ……

[@ronniedelahoussayechauvin6717]

LoL🤣🤣🤣Same Thoughts🤣 Secret Society!

[@nathanalyward16]

Wow, so many comments that’s actually lived in or experienced something regarding this place. Cool stories and video!

[@bustermot]

It makes me think the stories should be catalogued properly. A few hundred years from now somebody would appreciate that I bet.

[@davidh9844]

This is amazing. I grew up on Long Island in the 50s and 60s, fewer than 20 miles as the crow flies from the place. Governor's Island was always a mystery - a military base in a city where you never, ever saw a uniform, a shadow on the horizon and forbidden to civilians like us. I had no idea of the history - other than it being a military base - anything. As one who despises almost everything associated with New York, I would love to visit the place. Where do you get the ferry? Manhattan or Brooklyn?

[@thinkingguy9085]

The GI ferry is next to the SI ferry at the tip of Manhattan.

[@BuzzSargent]

Good Report.

[@danielvandersall6756]

I've always thought this would be the perfect place for an F1 track... Just build a bridge over to the mainland, and then you'd have an incredible venue with views of the skyline.

[@snittykitty1]

I love this place, nice to know some of it's history.

[@Lunerlander]

The big white building in the north east corner is a ventilation tower for the Brooklyn battery tunnel. The island is mostly a park and a public high school. I did an internship for the governor island ferry in high school.

[@SAM-gy7ep]

Thank You For Sharing 🇺🇲

[@la4two]

love this content

[@charlessherlock3204]

Very good job. Thank you

[@sewingwithfire700]

I was stationed there in 1992 Coast Guard pollution response office. Wow it was a great time. Lots of memories and enjoying the city. Best pizza! I lived in the new barracks. Great view of everything. The harbor patrols floatable debris reports were my favorite. Got to see so much.

[@johnscanlan9335]

I could go on and on about the history of Governor's Island, far more than is appropriate for this spot. But I can properly say it's a magnificent spot for a wonderfully easy full-day trip by any New Yorker or tourist visiting the city!

[@jaxsun72]

Since it's a secret as stated in the title everyone that watches this video has to promise not to tell.

[@epolk1968]

Them and the 800,000 people who visit annually. Shhh! It's a big secret! 🙄

[@distar97]

An almost unknown land approach just off the northern tip of the island. There is an emergency stairwell that goes down to the Hugh Carey automotive tunnel (formerly named the Brooklyn-Battery tunnel) that runs between Manhattan and Brooklyn. The tunnel is quite long and a midpoint exit provides fire safety to motorists . There’s a large ventilation fan like others I’ve seen in subway tunnels in the city.

[@DMETS519]

I thought that vent structure was for the Brooklyn Battery tunnel. Is it connected to a subway too?

[@distar97]

@@DMETS519 Your correct. I changed my comment.

[@oDon44]

Stationed there twice while in the Coast Guard 1970-1972 and 1973-1975 at ETA School. Loved it!

[@JohnHoranzy]

Old Coast Guard Rumor. When the Brooklyn Battery Tunnel was being planned, it was offered to connect the island to the tunnel. The Army had the island at that time and they declined the offer because it would have messed up the Golf Course.

[@bustermot]

Thank God the Army was so forward thinking in so many areas. Mayor Laguardia also wanted to build a major airport on the island and the army threw up Liggett across the middle of the island partially to stop that from happening.

[@notfadeaway6617]

It was a good video than I expected

[@romainthblt]

00:09 West of Brooklyn

[@sclogse1]

I lived on the island in 1955. Big caterpillars...great view of the city, lots of play area. I think a shot of Richard Widmark leaving a building in Panic In The Streets was filmed there...and the building was where I lived...so my mother would tell me. Army school buses would pick us up. Besides the driver, a WAC would accompany us on the bus. I always tried to sit next to her. Hubba hubba.

[@t200b-i7k]

Ryan, you always do such a nice job! Thank you and keep up the good work!

[@missfluffs2000]

This is the most amazing place. I would recommend 100x. Peaceful. Amazing views. Amazing food.

[@Neighbour_Al]

I lived on GOVIS for seven years. Such an oasis.

[@pisces1017]

I lived there 5 years, wonderful place to grow up.

[@beanzbros886]

Bro that music at the beginning was perfect ‼️

[@mikekissel7543]

Lived there for @ 2 yrs '75 to '76 while in the Coast Guard. Picture window in my apt. framed the Statue of Liberty. Ring side seat for bicentennial fireworks and tall ships.

[@frankranieri6816]

I was stationed on Governors Island in 1987 and 1988 while in the Coast Guard. Worked at the Fire Station, the Operations Center, and eventuality went to Electronics Technician school there. Stayed in the barracks for a while that were directly across from the Statue of Liberty. Quite a view for a young man from Florida. It was an all around great experience, even when I had to commute from Staten Island once my family arrived. The spectacular scenery made the two ferry rides worth the trouble. Thanks for providing this interesting video.

[@americanwelder9865]

Thank you for your service!

[@alexboyd4370]

I’ve been there and slept at the campsite there. Very weird feeling seeing the city lights and hearing the noise and the ferry horn but being able to escape it on the far side of the island.

[@Backyardmech1]

4:16 Is anyone going to mention the drawing of the guy hanging over the gallow?

[@bustermot]

That illustration was of lower Manhattan. The Army did it by the neck over on Governors Island.

[@yankees29]

My great grandmother worked at n Governors island during the Great Depression. Luckily she had a government job that kept her employed through that era. I actually did a job on Governors island about 5-6 years ago. We drilled foundation piles for some agricultural program they had going on there. The views of Brooklyn and Manhattan are incredible.

[@Mr.Robert1]

Remember when the History Channel used to show history?

[@GH-oi2jf]

West of Brooklyn, not east.

[@billblue3159]

When my father was in the Army my family lived on Governor's Island briefly. I still remember the huge apartment building we lived in. I was very young and I don't remember much, but I do remember seeing the NYC skyline from our building and also the Statue of Liberty, but barely. I know we didn't live there for very long because we then moved to Long Island. My father was stationed at Fort Dix I think, and my youngest sister was born there in 1963. After that we were transferred to Leighton barracks near Würzburg Germany.

[@UncleSam-bu9gz]

Did my USCG GM training there. Nice station.

[@christophernunez6802]

It's not east of Brooklyn as stated at 0:10 It's west of Brooklyn.

[@samdebueger8943]

11:45- it’s the HMNZS Taranaki F421 Awesome to see that 😂

[@tadroid3858]

I was in ET & Loran-C school there from March to Sept. in 1985. "Roach coach on the approach!" I loved throwing frisbee with a friend at the World Trade Center on a slow Sunday morning. Then back on the ferry for lunch. My son worked at a festival on the island about 4 years ago, when he was attending Stevens in Hoboken.

[@cjmaloney69]

Not long before it closed, I worked for the company that paved the road that ran around the perimeter of the island. The view of the city all around was stunning. If memory serves, we needed to put some kind of mat-like material under the asphalt, I think it had something to do with helping prevent moisture damage. We drove in from the work yard out on Long Island each morning, so as nice and unique a job that it was, the commute was murder.

[@aquariuscheers9191]

I'm a native New Yorker and this is very informative. Thank you.☺️

[@dn744]

Fantastic 🤗

[@Hando316]

I went there on a class trip when I was a kid. One of my classmate's dad worked there. This was back in the late 70s.

[@MarquisdeSuave]

It's not much of a secret. My kid's soccer academy trains there twice a week. It also used to house mamy Coast Guard families back from the 1940's through the early 1990's. There are still residential homes that are all over the island.

[@sighpocket5]

Nice!!!!!

[@Mr.Robert1]

For about 15 years of my life I lived in Staten Island and worked in downtown Manhattan by the World Trade Center Financial District when I had some extra time on my hands I used to take the Staten Island Ferry to downtown Manhattan and enjoy looking at the New York City skyline especially when coming home at night seeing all the buildings lit up it was because of 9/11 when the Saudis decided to take down the Twin Towers that my brother and my brother-in-law both worked in I went back into the air force for an additional 8 years supported the troops on the ground I felt it was something that I had to do anybody who thinks that video games is like War has no clue it's a shame really I see a lot of people on the internet comparing real war to their three dimensional or their virtual reality video games there is no comparison taking a life of a woman her children and her family and playing a video game.

[@higbeedoug]

@4:15 what is that guy doing up in the air and why? If this is some sort of punishment back then, please explain. Thnx.

[@barbarasparks8123]

Loved living on the island. Good times!

[@user-ms5on7gg5o]

Loved it there when I was in CG Yeoman Class A School in Sep 73 when it was still a CG Base.

[@markpell8979]

Those silly Liberty Mutual Insurance commercials with Lady Liberty in the background across the bay to the West are supposed to appear to be shot at Picnic Point.

[@My_Alchemical_Romance]

How’d you do the google earth drone shot in the first few scenes? Great job.

[@jrinnyc35]

At 0:09, Governors Island is west of Brooklyn not east.

[@driftwoodpile]

My dad was stationed here from 79-81 and I lived there as a child for those years. It was an amazing place to live, but man where there some roaches haha. It's a little weird to see everything I knew completely gone. Even more strange was on the google Earth street view to see our old apartment after it was used for fire training purposes, and placed I used to play bein overgrown and post apocalyptic in appearance.

[@lastationproductions]

Awesome video Cool secret island I would totally live there if it was allowed

[@scrapiron1952]

Cool! Never head of it. Very interesting!👍💪🇺🇸

[@IIIC3YLOCO]

I work on this island and boy is it awesome.

[@FFNOIBN]

One thing that was left out of your presentation is Governors Island was used in the days following 9/11 I know because I was on state active duty with the New York guard New York states a defense force working side by side with the Army National Guard at the time the National Guard would go to Governors Island in the days after 9/11 and from there they would go wherever they were sent it was not made common knowledge at the time because technically we were at war as a Sergeant in the state defense force New York guard I can safely say without fear of contradiction Governors Island played a pivotal role in the very immediate days after September 11 2001

[@RedStickLouisiana]

I was in the Texas State Guard for six years and was called to state active duty several times.

[@pisces1017]

The great boatlift.

[@briangarrow448]

I wonder what the value of the island would be today?

[@ThePaulmirto]

There's a island between. Verrazano bridge And Coney Island.. years ago late 70s I went on there with my friends one of them had a boat. It was full of seagull shit.. I recently heard that now there are seals all over that island.. be interesting if you could do a video on that...

[@samanthab1923]

Hoffman & Swinburne Islands were used to quarantine stations for the influx of immigrants coming thru Ellis Island. Now off limits. Bird sanctuary & yes seals too now!

[@NfOrCeMaN]

Anyone know the name of the song in the beginning?

[@MrRockyko]

I worked there from 89-96 met my wife there as well who worked there place was great