Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
Arts & Entertainment
Staten Island's Graveyard Of Ships
By
Jen Carlson
Published May 3, 2010
Modified May 3, 2010
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
View all 5
By
Jen Carlson
Published May 3, 2010
Modified May 3, 2010
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Remember in the 1987 classic Can't Buy Me Love when Ronald Miller took Cindy Mancini to the airplane graveyard? Well we have our very own sunken ship graveyard right here in New York, which is way cooler. Tugster paddled out there on a kayak yesterday and returned with some amazing photos. In this old NY Times article, dating back 20 years, the paper takes a look at Staten Island's Rossville, where ships go to die. At the time, Norman Brouwer, curator of the South Street Seaport Museum, told them it "is a tableau of the history of shipping in New York."
Back when Forgotten-NY took a visit, he reported back noting that "vessels from all decades of the 20th Century lie, not exactly in state, but in a state of decomposition and rust at this former boatyard at Arthur Kill Road and Rossville Avenue. Most are tugs or cargo ships. The former piers have collapsed and are for the most part unpassable, which makes them a magnet for daredevil urban explorers." Color us intrigued.
Tagged
graveyard
rossville
ships
staten island
sunken ships
Jen Carlson
Jen Carlson is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE arts-entertainment
In the mood for a pastoral autumn experience? Try Queens.
We went fall-maxxing at edge of town.
By
Elizabeth Shwe
and
James Ramsay
Published Oct 1, 2026 at 1:08 p.m. ET
October is spooky season at the movies in New York City
Horror fans, get ready to be horrified.
By
Emma Stefansky
Arts & Entertainment
October is spooky season at the movies in New York City
Horror fans, get ready to be horrified.
By
Emma Stefansky
At the Museum at FIT, an argument for dolls as the ultimate fashion influencers
By
Quinn Moreland
Immanuel Wilkins is upholding NYC's jazz history. He's also dreaming up its future.
By
Sonia Rao
Ever wish you could get paid to walk through a stranger’s house? ‘The Scout’ is for you.
By
Sonia Rao
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .