Comments on: Bannerman's Arsenal Photoessay

Bannerman's Arsenal Photoessay

jonson — Sat, 17 Nov 2007 19:17:43 -0800

Excellent post over at BLDBLOG on the history of Bannerman's Arsenal, a ruined island castle in the middle of the Hudson river, created by a war profiteer who was at one time the world's largest arms dealer. Bonus points for the amazing accompanying photos by Shaun O'Boyle, whose site Modern Ruins has been featured on the blue previously.

By: Horace Rumpole

Horace Rumpole — Sat, 17 Nov 2007 19:28:36 -0800

Wow, those shots are gorgeous. Somehow this one looks exactly like the world's most elaborate sand castle.

By: rob511

rob511 — Sat, 17 Nov 2007 19:33:59 -0800

Earlier Modern Ruins link. These images are so haunting; it boggles the mind to think that this setting is just fifty-odd miles from Manhattan. P.S. See also BLDBLOG's lovely, scary Waterworld Я Us post.

By: cazoo

cazoo — Sat, 17 Nov 2007 19:48:24 -0800

googe maps

By: rob511

rob511 — Sat, 17 Nov 2007 19:51:07 -0800

Oops, I duplicated jonson's spelling; it should be BLDGBLOG.

By: cazoo

cazoo — Sat, 17 Nov 2007 19:55:46 -0800

whoops. let me try this again. Google Maps

By: mrzarquon

mrzarquon — Sat, 17 Nov 2007 20:03:30 -0800

Let me simply say this: I Want It.

By: fatbaq

fatbaq — Sat, 17 Nov 2007 20:11:38 -0800

The Bannerman's Island Trust website has more info and some nice pictures in their gallery from 'back in the day'. I used to live in this area and loved to stop at the overlook on 218, the views in this area of the hudson are incredible. $50 bucks would get you a tour of the island via kayak last year.

By: unknowncommand

unknowncommand — Sat, 17 Nov 2007 20:18:17 -0800

What a great essay. I've been to Bannerman twice, once by the trust's charter boat, and once by kayak via Hudson Valley Outfitters. It is a really weird place. Bannerman's odd buildings and details (he drew all the floorplans and none are based on square or rectangles) remind me a lot of Jeff McKissack's Orange Show. Both are worth a visit. The tours of Bannerman border on amateur, but in an awesome way. While the Wikipedia article states that the island was purchased by New York State, it's my understanding that it was a gift from a Rockefeller. The state certainly doesn't seem to be doing anything with it. It is a treacherous mess of rocky paths, falling-down buildings and overgrowth. Overall, it is great if you like to explore ruins with old ladies who are reading from notes, telling dubious stories, and wearing hardhats (you get to wear a hardhat!), but bad if you like bathrooms.

By: unknowncommand

unknowncommand — Sat, 17 Nov 2007 20:19:49 -0800

Also, the main arsenal is not as big as it seems in the photos (or from the train). The building itself bows out as it gets taller, making it seem more massive than it is.

By: roboppy

roboppy — Sat, 17 Nov 2007 23:11:07 -0800

I've passed that island a few times while riding the Metro North—it always made me think, "What in the...huuuh?" or something less eloquent. Although it intrigued me, I never bothered to figure out what it was actually called. BUT NOW I KNOW. Yay. Thanks for the link!

By: languagehat

languagehat — Sun, 18 Nov 2007 05:05:00 -0800

I've paddled around Bannerman's, too, with a friend who's a military history buff and could rattle off the whole story of the place—we didn't need any stinkin' tour guide. Great pix, great post!

By: Sk4n

Sk4n — Sun, 18 Nov 2007 06:47:35 -0800

Nice find. I too passed it many times on the train and wondered what it was. Years later I got a boat and so am now very familiar with it. They don't like you tying up there without permission. And they don't give permission. It seems Kayaks are ok though.

By: dhartung

dhartung — Sun, 18 Nov 2007 12:22:08 -0800

Heck with Google Maps -- Live.com has it in 3D. While the Wikipedia article states that the island was purchased by New York State, it's my understanding that it was a gift from a Rockefeller. The money may have come from the Laurence S. Rockefeller fund. Laurance was a conservationist who gave most of hte land for Grand Teton National Park. The brother of Governor and VP Nelson, he was once state parks commissioner, and his fund was designated specifically for the expansion of NY state parks.

By: jouke

jouke — Sun, 18 Nov 2007 19:15:09 -0800

Sic transit gloria mundi. Btw for locals who want to rock the original Dutch pronunciation of Pollepel island: it's not Pol-luh-pel but Pol-lay-puhl. Lepel means spoon, pol-lepel means ladle.