Castle Williams is now open to the public, with tours taking visitors to the roof for great views (photo by twi-ny/mdr)
Governors Island
Wednesday – Sunday, 10:00 am – 5:30 pm, free ticketed tours on the half hour from 11:30 am to 4:30 pm
www.nps.gov
castle williams slideshow
A genuine New York City treasure, during the summer Governors Island hosts indoor and outdoor art exhibits, live music and dance, a variety of food choices, biking, and lots of military history. One of the highlights is Castle Williams, a huge circular fort that features a hundred guns around its perimeter; the “Cheesebox” was used as a Confederate prison during the Civil War. Named for its designer, chief engineer Lieutenant Colonel Jonathan Williams, who later became the first superintendent of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, the castle was built between 1807 and 1811 and used as a defense during the War of 1812. After a major restoration, the red sandstone structure was opened to the public several years ago, and lots of information about its history is available in the open courtyard area and in the first-floor galleries. In addition, half-hour guided tours take a small group of people (sign up in advance to secure a spot) up the stairs, into various rooms, cells, and sick wards, and onto the roof, which provides a wonderful view of Lower Manhattan and a close-up of a cannon. The National Park Service tours, which also shed light on the intricate architecture of the rounded fortress, are usually held Wednesday through Sunday from 11:30 am to 4:30 pm, but they have been currently suspended because of electrical problems. The castle provides quite a contrast to the centrally located Fort Jay, an eighteenth-century four-bastioned battlement that was reconstructed by Williams between 1806 and 1809. “Experience Fort Jay: An Island Star!” tours are held Saturdays and Sundays from 12 noon to 4:00 on the hour, while “Artillery Thursday!” takes place Thursday afternoons at 2:00.