Tag: Blackwell Island Lighthouse NYC

“I GET AROUND”: TRANSPORTS OF DELIGHT IN NEW YORK

Published on by Rolling Harbour3 Comments

CONVENTIONAL NEW YORK TRANSPORT

UBIQUITOUS YELLOW CABNYC Transport - New York Cab

PRIVATE CAR (BUT DON’T STUPIDLY PARK AT COLUMBUS CIRCLE)NYC Transport - Private Motor + Cops

“TOURIST TRAP” IN CENTRAL PARK   NYC Transport - Horse-drawn Carriage

NEW YORK WATER TAXI (BROOKLYN VIEW)NYC Transport - New York Water Taxi 2

STATEN ISLAND FERRY (THE BEST FREE RIDE IN THE WORLD
NYC Transport - Staten Island Ferry

CIRCLE LINE FERRY ( TAKE A TRIP RIGHT ROUND MANHATTAN)NYC Transport - Circe Line Ferry

LESS CONVENTIONAL METHODS

ROOSEVELT ISLAND TRAMWAY 

Two minutes of excitement crossing high over the East River. See THE LIGHTHOUSE & the newly restored BLACKWELL FARMHOUSE  (1796), possibly the oldest private house in New York CityNYC Transport - The Tramway

BUDWEISER LORRY 
NYC Transport - Bud Lorry

ON  THE  GOOD  SHIP  AMBROSE         NYC Transport - The Good Ship Ambrose

TALL SHIP (in fact a training vessel, so you won’t get very far)NYC Transport - Tall Ship

PRIVATE GIN PALACE (LIMITED AVAILABILITY)NYC Transport - Private Yacht

LEFTFIELD – FOR SPECIALISTS ONLY

                                  CONTAINER SHIP (or maybe a tug)                                     NYC Transport - Container Ship

ICE-BOUND BARGE IN THE EAST RIVER      NYC Transport - Frozen Freighter

ICE-BOUND BARGE IN THE HARBOURNYC Transport - frozen long-ship

DREDGER (OR HELICOPTER – OR ON GULLBACK)NYC Transport - Dredger (+ Gull)

GIN PALACE WITH FANCY MASCOT…NYC Transport - Private Yacht with Novelty Mascot

ROOSEVELT ISLAND LIGHTHOUSE NYC

Published on by Rolling Harbour2 Comments

220px-Blackwell_Island_Lighthouse

ROOSEVELT ISLAND LIGHTHOUSE NYC

This New York City lighthouse is situated at the northeast tip of Roosevelt Island, in the East River. It is also known as Blackwell Island Lighthouse, named for the family that owned and farmed the island more than 200 years ago, and whose farmhouse (1796), recently-restored, can still be found nestling among the towering apartment blocks [a subsequent post on the farmhouse is planned]. The lighthouse is also known as Welfare Island Lighthouse, reflecting the use to which the island has been put in more recent times for hospitals, an asylum, and a penitentiary.

220px-Welfare_Island,_Lighthouse,_New_York_(New_York_County,_New_York)

The 50 ft octagonal lighthouse was built of stone in 1872 under the supervision of architect James Renwick Jr, and is a designated ‘New York City Landmark’. It operated until the 1940s, and has subsequently been restored, most recently in 1998. Despite several legends that are attached to the building, its function in a busy tidal shipping channel was prosaically practical. 

new-york-aerial-1NYC Aerial 2Roosevelt Island Lighthouse 1

The area shown above is known as Lighthouse Park. Like many waterside features on this side of the City, it was damaged by Hurricane Sandy. The green lift bridge visible below is the Wards Island Bridge, also known as the 103rd Street Footbridge.

Roosevelt Island Lighthouse 2Roosevelt Island Lighthouse 3

This photo, mainly of a ring-billed gull, was taken from near the lighthouse during a period of sub-zero temperatures. The freighter in the channel has its entire foredeck thickly covered in ice.Gull, Ship & Lift Bridge, NYC