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Abandoned island in the middle of NYC
- powdahound 13y agoThis is the island where Typhoid Mary (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Typhoid_Mary http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Typhoid_Mary), the first person in the US detected to carry typhoid without showing symptoms, was quarantined. There's a great Radiolab episode where they take a trip to the island; http://www.radiolab.org/2011/nov/14/ http://www.radiolab.org/2011/nov/14/, http://www.radiolab.org/2011/nov/14/typhoid-mary/ http://www.radiolab.org/2011/nov/14/typhoid-mary/
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- bitwize 13y agoGoing through those photos, I was on the alert for Clickers...
- rthomas6 13y agoWhat are Clickers?
- bitwize 13y agoThe recent video game The Last of Us focuses on exploring abandoned and overgrown environments while being on the watch both for hostile humans, and for zombie-type creatures infested with a mutant Ophiocordyceps fungus that attacks humans instead of insects. "Clickers" are one such subtype of infected; their eyes have been overgrown with fungus so they use echolocation to find you and make distinctive screeching and clicking sounds.
- drawkbox 13y agoWas thinking the same thing. These islands are perfect for settings of horror movies or video games. They are all a bit eerie and beautiful at the same time. Lots of these islands would be perfect settings for summer camps that somehow become the next zombie infestation. Then there are islands like Dean Kamen's island (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_Dumpling_Island http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_Dumpling_Island) on the other hand that are kinda like Tony Stark's island. So expensive to have services on an island and get stuff to and fro. Kamen has solved the independent power grid problem there.
- zachgersh 13y agoNYC loves to do all sorts of interesting things with its islands. Another island that most New Yorkers know nothing about is Roosevelt Island: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roosevelt_Island http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roosevelt_Island It has had a very long history including having a prison/small pox hospital/mental hospital.
- madlynormal 13y agoI've lived in Queens all my life (29yrs). This Spring was the first time I've stepped foot on Roosevelt Island, they have a decent indoor pool there that's pretty cheap.
- zachgersh 13y agoThey also have a tennis center and indoor basketball courts. The tram that runs between Roosevelt Island and Manhattan is also one of the things I recommend any NYC tourist do at least once: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roosevelt_Island_Tramway http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roosevelt_Island_Tramway
- cocoflunchy 13y agoI went there on Saturday, it's nice indeed ;)
- dale386 13y agoTrash on Roosevelt Island isn't picked up by truck -- it's sucked through pneumatic tubes into the island's central waste center. All buildings on the island are hooked up. http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2010/08/trash-sucking-island/all/1 http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2010/08/trash-sucking-island/...
- warfangle 13y agoThere used to be a fairly massive pneumatic tube system throughout Manhattan, mostly for mail. I had no idea there's a pneumatic trash system.
- blux 13y agoAnother interesting island nearby is Hart Island. See http://googlesightseeing.com/2006/08/island-of-the-dead/ http://googlesightseeing.com/2006/08/island-of-the-dead/, http://goo.gl/maps/VplQF http://goo.gl/maps/VplQF
- Samuel_Michon 13y agoThere are actually a couple of uninhabited islands in the East River: North Brother (the one in the article), South Brother, Mill Rock, and U Thant. If you find this stuff interesting, you may want to check out Forgotten New York[1], a site run by movie location scout Kevin Walsh, who gets access to places few people get to see in the city. Another great blog is Abandoned NYC[2]. [1] http://forgotten-ny.com/ http://forgotten-ny.com/ [2] http://abandonednyc.com/ http://abandonednyc.com/
- vivin 13y agoThere's an island named after the 3rd UN Secretary General? I did not know that. Cool!
- Samuel_Michon 13y agoYup. “There is a forlorn little spit of land in the middle of the East River by the United Nations, called U Thant Island.” “In 1977, a group of United Nations employees who meditated with Sri Chinmoy, a Queens-based mystic, had the island re-christened in honor of the Burmese diplomat U Thant, who was the third Secretary General of the world body from 1961 to 1971.” http://www.nytimes.com/1996/10/06/nyregion/fyi-652520.html http://www.nytimes.com/1996/10/06/nyregion/fyi-652520.html
- shawnc 13y agoMy uncle was very close friends with Sri Chinmoy, and I met him a few times in my youth. Fascinating man.
- smackfu 13y agoI remember my parents had a joke book from the 70s where one joke had a punchline of "No, U Thant." That did not age well.
- frenchman_in_ny 13y agoAdding another movie scout [3] to the list of folks who have uncovered neat NYC artefacts. [3] http://www.scoutingny.com/?page_id=1363 http://www.scoutingny.com/?page_id=1363
- meerita 13y agoI love these islands. Hashima island is one of these http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hashima_Island http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hashima_Island in Japan. Or well the http://wikitravel.org/en/Shikoku http://wikitravel.org/en/Shikoku is another place you can go and see the forgotten life. Check this one too http://gakuran.com/gunkanjima-ruins-of-a-forbidden-island/ http://gakuran.com/gunkanjima-ruins-of-a-forbidden-island/
- 3rd3 13y agoHa! This picture [1] of Hashima Island instantly reminded me of the James Bond film Skyfall. Apparently it served as an inspiration. [1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:%E8%BB%8D%E8%89%A6%E5%B3%B6_%284%29.JPG http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:%E8%BB%8D%E8%89%A6%E5%B3%B...
- meerita 13y agoProbably. When I saw the movie I recall having the same though. Many of these islands are simply a jewell for photographers.
- Jagat 13y agoYou're right. From wikipedia "In the 2012 James Bond film Skyfall, the island served as an inspiration for the lair of villain Raoul Silva but filming did not take place on the island itself. One section was recreated at Pinewood Studios in Great Britain and the rest via CGI"
- rdouble 13y agohttp://www.theworld.org/2012/11/the-history-of-hashima-the-island-in-bond-film-skyfall/ http://www.theworld.org/2012/11/the-history-of-hashima-the-i...
- Gakuranman 13y agoIt's a surprise to see my niche being brought up on Hacker News! I read the site regularly, so it's a little flattering to be mentioned. Gunkanjima was a fascinating place to explore, but there are countless other much smaller sites with their own mystique and rich history. The 'Royal House' and 'Red Villas' are among many that I have explored and documented. Shikoku is one of the four main islands of Japan. It's not in any way 'forgotten' in the urbex sense, but as with most everywhere in Japan, it has many abandoned buildings and sites to find, as well as some good diving sites, I hear.
- CoffeeDregs 13y agoGot one here in the Bay Area: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drawbridge,_California http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drawbridge,_California Fun, though dangerous [active train track; passenger trains pass at 100kph], place to visit. Just walk out the trails from Alviso in the south bay. I've done it about 3 times. Old dead buildings falling into the marsh. Walkways lead from the tracks to the water's edge (for maintenance?). Note: it's illegal to visit (dangerous + nature sanctuary), so go at night..
- jusben1369 13y agoEven on this small island the groups split on religious lines!........:)
- whyenot 13y agoNo, don't go at night. Don't go unless you are part of an organized tour. Drawbridge is along the train tracks used by Amtrak and ACE trains. At night, freight trains also use the tracks, and not on a set schedule. If you are at the wrong spot and a train is coming, there is literally nowhere to go except for a swim in the mud. I went there on a tour, I think through Palo Alto Baylands. I'm not sure if tours are offered anymore, a quick google search didn't come up with anything. It's an interesting spot, especially if there is someone along who knows the history, but there really isn't that much to see anymore, most of the houses have sunk into the mud.
- seany 13y agoIMHO the biggest risk out there is getting caught not the trains. The tracks leading up to that area have clear sight lines for miles. I've been out there 4 or 5 days over the years and have only really had to deal with trains a few times, and you always knew they were coming with many minutes to spare (10+ for a slow moving freighter, to just under 5 probably for an ACE train). Not to say it isn't dangerous, but if you can jump to the left or to the right and are worried about some mud I'm not sure that this is the place for you to explore :) On the other hand I've had several friends get nasty fines from LEO's while out there, or on there way out there. YMMV
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- ges 13y agoThis is for this kind of story that I love Backspaces. Makes the Internet a better place.
- sage_joch 13y agoLooks like something right out of the /r/nosleep subreddit.
- subpixel 13y agoIf you ever do any exploring of old/abandoned buildings like this, you better use a respirator. Asbestos + neglect + vandalism is a nasty combo.
- riveteye 13y agoI want to emphasize this. Always use appropriate safety equipment when exploring old buildings. Steel-toed boots are also a very good idea, in addition to a respirator. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Urban_exploration#Safety_and_legality http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Urban_exploration#Safety_and_le...
- ganeumann 13y agoI know someone from jersey who was approached about investing in the island back then. I thought it sounded pretty cool. He said "except that's where all the escapees from Rikers wash up." I couldn't tell if he was joking.
- rorrr2 13y agohttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_Brother_Island,_East_River https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_Brother_Island,_East_Riv... It's now a bird sanctuary, and it looks like it's illegal to be there.
- argumentum 13y agoIt's vaguely beautiful ..
- Protometheus 13y agoDibs.
- joeblau 13y agoIm surprised billionaires haven't snatched these up and turned them into private islands.
- uptown 13y agoLimited accessibility make them less desirable.
- gmazzotti 13y agoLimited accessibility if you have your own Yacht or helicopter?
- rdouble 13y agoYou're overestimating the appeal of an island in the middle of the East River.
- joeblau 13y agoI laughed because you're absolutely right. I just figured that if its near Manhattan, it can't be that bad.
- Samuel_Michon 13y agoAlso, if you live there, you can’t be called ‘bridge and tunnel’, because there is neither a bridge nor a tunnel. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bridge_and_tunnel http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bridge_and_tunnel
- emiliobumachar 13y agoGiven real state prices in NYC, if find it hard to believe it's still "too expensive to build everything" now, if it was so in the 60's. Perhaps there is more to the story? Does anyone know why this place doesn't get developed?
- joonix 13y agoBecause it's an island with no infrastructure. There's still tons of cheap real estate in the Bronx that's pretty close to Manhattan. That'll get gentrified well before a poorly located abandoned island with no transit connections would.
- maratd 13y ago> Because it's an island with no infrastructure. There was a hydrant in the pictures, so they had water and most likely, sewage. Electricity as well, based on the appearance of things. Remember, the island was actively used up until the mid-sixties. > There's still tons of cheap real estate in the Bronx that's pretty close to Manhattan. This is mostly the reason. People who aren't local don't understand that while real-estate prices are sky-high at the center of town, you really don't need to go far before they come down to earth.
- tnorthcutt 13y agoFifty year old pipes that haven't been maintained make for a crumbling mess.
- hristov 13y agoCorrect. Also it seems that the whole island is covered by a marsh. The island's location is technically a river but it is very close to the ocean and ocean levels have risen quite a bit in the past 50 years. So one can expect that the whole thing will be mud and it will be expensive to build anything useful on it. But it would be interesting if some billionaire buys it to build a mansion on there. That would be the ultimate mark of exclusivity.
- seanconaty 13y agoIf you like stuff like this, you should check out this photographer's flickr. https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=4019607 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=4019607 He takes photos of abandoned buildings. If you're in SF he's got some good ones of 140 Montgomery, the art deco building that is now being refurbished into new digs for Yelp and other companies. http://www.flickr.com/photos/tunnelbug/sets/72157613803850225/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/tunnelbug/sets/7215761380385022... He's also done Neverland Ranch, and the Jackling House Mansion (home to Steve Jobs and one point) http://www.flickr.com/photos/tunnelbug/sets/72157594153520402/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/tunnelbug/sets/7215759415352040....
- nwh 13y agoWhy is half the available screen space of this website asking me to download their app? There's an app banner, another banner at the top, and a banner that floats with the text at the bottom.
- alan_cx 13y agoIf abandoned buildings is your thing, then this Russian site is a fantastic way to waste a lot of time. http://lana-sator.livejournal.com/ http://lana-sator.livejournal.com/ Google translate will help with navigation.
- Samuel_Michon 13y agoAlso, English Russia: http://englishrussia.com/category/exclusive/ http://englishrussia.com/category/exclusive/
- tiziano88 13y agoFor (but not limited to) the British: http://www.derelictlondon.com/ http://www.derelictlondon.com/
- bmj 13y agoThe Sleepy City site is also a great time sink: http://sleepycity.net/ http://sleepycity.net/
- stared 13y agoAnd this one: http://www.opuszczone.com/ http://www.opuszczone.com/ (in Polish).
- skyebook 13y agoAnother NYC gem is the abandoned Cobble Hill Tunnel on the border of Cobble Hill and Brooklyn Heights. It is also the oldest cut and cover construction in North America for the subterranean fans out there. http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cobble_Hill_Tunnel http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cobble_Hill_Tunnel
- ewams 13y agoFrom the last picture, if the door was closed, the shots were fired from inside the building. Doubt the shots would have came from police at "nearby Riker's Island."
- thecosas 13y agoI thought the same thing. I believe what they intended to say was that police from Riker's came over and used the island, not that shots were fired from Riker's through the door.
- lostinnyc 13y agoIt's also the site of the worst NYC disaster prior to 9/11: http://www.atlasobscura.com/places/north-brother-island http://www.atlasobscura.com/places/north-brother-island
- corin_ 13y agoBiggest thing that struck me in this piece wasn't really related to the topic, but was: "Art still remained from the heroin addicts who had lived in the rehab center" - reading that made me realise what a big disconnect I have in my head between the sort of people who would create "art" on their walls with the sort of people I think of as heroin addicts. On a conscious level I know that anyone can be a heroin addict, I could become one, my brother/boss/friend might already be one... but I've only just realised what a predisposition I still hold onto.
- pfarrell 13y agoCheck out the "Outsider Art" movement if you would like to continue be challenged on who is capable of creating art. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Outsider_art http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Outsider_art
- corin_ 13y agoIt was more my mental picture of who heroin addicts are, rather than who artists aren't. I don't really have many views on artists, or much interest in most art - but thanks for the suggestion.
- rdouble 13y agoWhen I think of heroin addicts, I mostly think of artists and musicians. And Sherlock Holmes.
- girvo 13y agoHolmes was actually a cocaine addict ;)
- Samuel_Michon 13y agoJean-Michel Basquiat and Dash Snow died from heroin overdoses. Pablo Picasso, Jean Cocteau, Frida Kahlo, and many other artists used heroin or opium.
- haberman 13y agoWhat is the legal status of a place like this? Is it trespassing to take a look around?
- rdouble 13y agoYeah, you're not supposed to go out there.
- eksith 13y agoBehold: The future of all civilization once man has left Earth to nature.
- breadbox 13y agoThe photo of a fire hydrant drowning under ivy is especially striking. For some reason it communicates "abandonment" to me more clearly than the ruined buildings.
- alexkehayias 13y agoLived here for 8 years and still learning something new. Got to love NYC! Also throwing it out there that Backspaces has really good, off-beat (in a good way), artistic content like this all the time.
- iguana 13y agoI like that in the last photograph, the bullet holes are clearly from someone shooting from the inside out. Who was trying to get inside, and where are the bodies?
- ctdonath 13y agoLook again. Someone inside shot a smiley face in the shape of |:-)
- Alex3917 13y agoThere is another island in the middle of NYC that has a mass grave where the government has buried over 850,000 people. It's not open to the public though, and apparently they go to great lengths to keep the public and the media away.
- dailyrorschach 13y agoThat would be Hart Island, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hart_Island,_New_York http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hart_Island,_New_York It's the potter's field for the City of New York, where unclaimed remains and the remains of those who can't afford a burial are buried by Riker's inmates.
- lostlogin 13y agoThank you for that. I found that very sad, but addictive reading. The supposed origin of the term potters field was news to me too, and I didn't previously know what Judas did with his coins.
- D9u 13y agoAwesome photos, and I never would have imagined that anyplace in NYC could be so abandoned, but further reading shows that the island is occasionally patrolled by authorities. More info & images: http://www.businessinsider.com/north-brother-island-2012-2?op=1 http://www.businessinsider.com/north-brother-island-2012-2?o...
- apl002 13y agoCool pics but this is for reddit, not HN.
- apl002 13y agoCool pics but this is for reddit, not HN.
- jfletch1925 13y agoNothing but flowers...
- fakeer 13y agoPlease save those books. What's the bullets by police story? They used it as some firing range or that is crossfire marks? I got to find such abandoned places here in India. Maybe there's some database or blog for that. Any pointers anyone?
- photorized 13y agoIf you are into that sort of thing - some photos I took of the abandoned Harlem Valley Psych Hospital http://www.flickr.com/photos/mva/sets/72157618704382364/with/3559061664/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/mva/sets/72157618704382364/with...
- zmitri 13y agoIf you have any cool stories about those places to go along with the pictures, post them to backspaces and I'll make sure they get seen. I build the app with a friend.
- zw123456 13y agoPerfect plot for a cinema verite' horror flick: scene: "hey, I heard about this cool abandoned island off NYC, I double dare you to kayak over there and spend then might". Mayhem ensues... Kickstarter movie anyone?
- niels_olson 13y agoI believe the "x-ray" machine is actually an iron lung.
- iamthedata 13y agoH.P. Lovecraft used similar imagery and atmosphere: "The vast huddle of sagging gambrel roofs and peaked gables conveyed with offensive clearness the idea of wormy decay [...] Stretching inland from among them I saw the rusted, grass-grown line of the abandoned railway, with leaning telegraph-poles now devoid of wires, and the half-obscured lines of the old carriage roads to Rowley and Ipswich." http://hplovecraft.com/writings/texts/fiction/soi.aspx http://hplovecraft.com/writings/texts/fiction/soi.aspx