Governors Island Walking Tour

• Private 2-hour tour led by the author of The Governors Island Explorer’s Guide
• Discover island military life from the American Revolution to the Cold War
• Learn about dark secrets and see where the bodies are (literally) buried
• Climb Outlook Hill to see the Statue of Liberty and 360-degree Harbor views
• See rare photos, maps, and drawings from the guide’s personal collection
For more than 200 years, Governors Island was closed to the public. In 2003 the U.S. returned it to New York. On this tour learn how a former military post became the city’s greatest new park.
At 172 acres, Governors Island is a former Army and Coast Guard base in New York Harbor. It is now a public park and recreation area, as well as the Governors Island National Monument (managed by the U.S. National Park Service). The island public schedule is May 1 to October 31.
This tour is for anyone who wants to learn about the island’s past, present, and future. It’s an active walking tour of pathways and hills, of approximately three miles. The island is only accessible by a seven-minute ferry ride; your ferry ticket is included in the cost of your tour.
To get to the tour you will need to take the ferry from the Battery Maritime Building, 10 South Street, Manhattan. This is where the tour meets. Arrive at least 20-25 minutes before the scheduled departure time (for 2:00 p.m. tours, arrive no later than 1:40 p.m to check-in).
This tour is designed for tourists, locals, families, and groups of friends. You’ll visit more than thirty locations and come away with a new appreciation for the area.
Important Note: if you are taking an earlier ferry, are on the island in advance, or take a ferry from Brooklyn or NYC Ferry, the guide will meet you on the island at the Visitors Center. Contact him in advance if you are NOT meeting at the Battery Maritime Building.