Governors Island: The Jewel of New York Harbor [Hardcover]

Ann L. Buttenwieser (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 2009 | ISBN-10: 0815609361 | ISBN-13: 978-0815609360

On the southern edge of Manhattan stands a quiet piece of Americana. Governors Island, situated in New York Harbor, blends a sense of nostalgia with twenty-first-century amenities. The pristine setting showcases the island's rich history, including the vital role it played until recently in the country's armed forces. From its early days as the site of a British fort in the 1700s, to its longstanding role as a station for the U.S. Army and the Coast Guard, to its function as a venue for political receptions and parties, the island has hosted a dazzling parade of the brave and the dignified. But Governors Island encompasses more than military history; it offers a vivid reflection of historic events in New York City and the world at large.

Ann L. Buttenwieser brings this rich legacy to life, creating a striking portrait of the island through never-before-published photographs, blueprints, architectural plans, and interviews with former residents. Records from Castle Williams reveal an evolving national penal system, while those from the hospital tell the story of worldwide contagion and local sanitation. Accounts of the lives of the island's female residents offer insight into ethnic assimilation and the changing roles of women in the military, and a compendium of military and civilian recreational life on the island illuminates the changing meanings of open space and recreation over time.

Lavishly illustrated and filled with fascinating vignettes of the people and events of this unique landmark, Governors Island: The Jewel of New York Harbor will captivate enthusiasts of military and New York history alike.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Governors Island has borne witness to the grand parade of American history, from the revolution to the Cold War. Ann Buttenwieser's book showcases the fascinating parade of characters that built the island and called it home. -- Robert Pirani, Executive Director, Governors Island Alliance

"Buttenwieser weaves a story for historians, military enthusiasts, and anyone interested in learning more about New York's rich history. Governors Island: The Jewel of New York Harbor by Ann L. Buttenwieser is an essential resource." - Panache Privée --Panache Privée

"a vivid reminder of the city's military past, and, above all, of the vast potential for this underappreciated and underutilized oasis."- NY Times Bookshelf --NY Times Bookshelf

"In seven big, eventful chapters illustrated with photographs, maps, and drawings, Buttenwieser revives a potent little world, exposed on all sides to the winds of war, peace, and politics." --Columbia Magazine

"The island's fascinating tale is told by Ann L. Buttenwieser, an urban planner and waterfront historian, in this richly illustrated history....a commendable job of combining a well-researched text with a visually pleasing collection of images depicting developments on Governors Island over the years."- The Journal of America's Military Past --The Journal of America's Military Past

About the Author

Ann L. Buttenwieser is an urban planner and waterfront historian. She is the author of Manhattan Water-Bound: Manhattan's Waterfront from the Seventeenth Century to the Present, Second Edition, also published by Syracuse University Press.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 234 pages
• Publisher: Syracuse University Press (August 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0815609361
• ISBN-13: 978-0815609360
• Product Dimensions: 11.6 x 9.4 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.8 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,261,439 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars island and book: a New Yorker's delight, October 12, 2009

By 

A reader (New York City) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Governors Island: The Jewel of New York Harbor (Hardcover)

Governors Island: The Jewel in the Harbor is a large, beautifully produced book. As a presentation of fascinating New York City history and US Army (and Coast Guard) history in New York City it is superb. The book is filled with photos and other illustrations.

As the island is transformed into a publicly accessible park, New Yorkers and other visitors to Governors Island have in this book a wonderful resource to answer their questions and help understand where they are and what it has been like to be there over the past 200 years.

I saw this book mentioned in the New York Times yesterday and obtained a copy today. I am positively delighted and hope that this brief paragraph has communicated that delight.

Also recommended is Governors Island.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Not enough recent history, May 19, 2010

By 

Elsinore (Boca Raton, Florida) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Governors Island: The Jewel of New York Harbor (Hardcover)

This is a lovely book and does a good job of telling the story of Governor's Island but it stops a bit short. I purchased this book for my husband (USCG) who was stationed on the island in the early 1970's. Sadly there is very little about that time period forward. We felt a bit short-changed.