Ferry: Take the FREE ferry from the Battery Maritime Building Wednesday through Sunday at South and Whitehall Streets, adjacent to the Staten Island Ferry Terminal, in Lower Manhattan.

Subways to the Ferry: R/W to Whitehall Street, 1 to South Ferry, or 4/5 to Bowling Green.

Map Governors Island and the ferry departure point on Google.

Governors Island

A 172-acre island -- and former military base -- nestled between Manhattan and Brooklyn

Governors Island is the oldest European settlement in New York. Formerly serving as a U.S. Army military base and U.S. Coast Guard station, 92 acres in the historic district of Governors Island are open to the public during spring and summer months. A seven-minute FREE ferry ride from the Battery Maritime Building in Lower Manhattan will get you there to picnic, bike ride, and enjoy the gorgeous views and other cultural activities.

Governors Island is managed by the National Park Service (NPS) and the Governors Island Preservation and Education Corporation (GIPEC). NPS manages a 22 acre national monument within a larger National Historic Landmark District. The national monument showcases two forts from the early 19th century.

The two forts, Fort Jay and Castle Williams, were a key part of the Inner Harbor defense network that was constructed in the early 19th century to protect New York City from naval attack. Colonel Jonathan Williams, the chief engineer of the Army Corps of Engineers, designed the castle that would bear his name, and oversaw the construction of the other fortifications on Governors Island. He was also in charge of Castle Clinton at Battery Park, Fort Wood (which is now the base of the Statue of Liberty) and Fort Gibson on Ellis Island.

Castle Williams was built between 1807 and 1811. The fort imprisoned Confederate soldiers during the Civil War and then continued as a low security military prison until 1965. Fort Jay is a star-shaped fort, with a rare dry moat. The open courtyard in the interior is surrounded by former Army and Coast Guard barracks dating from the 1830s. The design of these attractive buildings is more reminiscent of townhouses than military quarters.

Today, a trip to Governors Island transports visitors to a historic military village just a few minutes from Manhattan. Wander through the forts and military homes or settle in for a picnic on the parade ground; no matter what the trip entails visitors will be treated to some of the best views in the city.

Colonel's Row on Governors Island is made up of stately homes and spectacular views of the city and harbor.

Castle Williams, built in the early 1800s, was originally designed to protect the city from threatening ships. While the fort never saw war in New York, it did serve as a military prison until the 1960s.