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Arts & Entertainment

Going to the Heart of Hart Island

By

Jen Carlson

Published Sep 2, 2008

Modified Sep 2, 2008

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"In 1935, a new Catholic chapel was built to replace one which had, by that point, become dilapidated. The chapel is still in remarkably good shape."

 

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By

Jen Carlson

Published Sep 2, 2008

Modified Sep 2, 2008

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Hart Island is one of those places in New York that many won't ever see. Part of the Bronx, it's currently uninhabited, but in the past has been used as a prisoner of war camp, a missile base and has housed a prison and a women's asylum.

Richard Nickel Jr. of The Kingston Lounge recently snuck on to the patrolled island (for five hours starting at the creepy hour of 4 a.m.), a risk since any trespassers will be fined $600 and could face a year in prison. The only people allowed are those who have family members buried there. "Since 1869, the island has served as New York's sixth potter's field. Approximately 800,000 bodies are buried on the island, making it the largest publicly funded cemetery in the world." Read more at The Hart Island Project.

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Jen Carlson

Jen Carlson is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.

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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations

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