Roosevelt Island: Where the Past Meets the Present and Future

Stretching back to 1637, we will explore the diverse history of the island and traverse the southern half of this former “haven” for hogs, and discuss its myriad changes over the years, both in name and architecture.

Along the way, we’ll visit the old and new, including Blackwell House, the island’s oldest structure circa 1796; the island’s infamous smallpox hospital, NYC’s only landmarked ruin; the Strecker Laboratory, the nation’s first pathological and bacteriological research institution; FDR Four Freedoms Park and the FDR Hope Memorial; the Cornell Tech Campus; and the swank Graduate Hotel that boasts a one-of-a-kind concierge desk comprised of remnants from the former 1835 NYC Lunatic Asylum, as well as some of the best views of Manhattan and Queens from its unique, rooftop vantage point in the middle of the East River.