Constitution Island facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Constitution Island |
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Constitution Island from the west
at Merritt Road at West Point |
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| Nearest city | West Point, New York, U.S. |
Constitution Island is a special place in New York. It sits on the east side of the Hudson River, north of New York City. It's right across from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. The island is connected to the shore by a marsh called Constitution Marsh.
This island is the only part of the West Point military base on the east side of the Hudson River. Long ago, it was known as "Martelaer's Rock." Constitution Island was a key location for early forts during the American Revolutionary War. The British took it for a short time in 1777. But American forces got it back in 1778. It then became a very important part of "Fortress West Point." In 1909, the island was given to the military academy. The West Point Museum has managed it ever since.
A new Education Center was finished in 2016. The historic Warner House was also restored. It will be ready to open as a museum again soon.
Contents
Martelaer's Rock: The Island's Old Name
Between Cold Spring and West Point is a large rocky island. It connects to the eastern shore by a marsh. Dutch sailors called it Martelaer's Island. They called the river part near it Martelaer's Rack, or Martyr's Reach. "Martyr" here meant "struggling." This was because ships sailing up the river often had trouble with the wind.
Fort Constitution: A Key Revolutionary War Site
Controlling the Hudson River was very important. Both Americans and the British knew this when the war started. The Hudson was a main way to move supplies and troops. On May 25, 1775, the Continental Congress decided to build forts. These forts would protect the Hudson River in the highlands.
General George Washington worked with New York leaders. They planned how to protect the Hudson River from the British. Local scouts found a good spot. This spot was Martlaer's Island, across from West Point. It was on a bend in the river. An engineer named Bernard Romans began building a large fort there. It was named "Fort Constitution."
Plans for the fort included four strong corners called bastions. Building the forts started in the summer of 1775. Soon, the island was known as Constitution Island. By November, it had 70 cannons. But building was hard and costly. So, the project was stopped. A new site was chosen further south. Materials from Fort Constitution were moved there in 1776. Fort Constitution was left unfinished. British troops destroyed what was there in 1777.
In 1778, a Polish engineer named Thaddeus Kosciusko designed "Fortress West Point." This was a group of forts and strong points on both sides of the river. On Constitution Island, new buildings were put up. These included a barracks, three small forts called redoubts, and a water battery.
The island is famous for being one end of the Great Chain. This huge iron chain stretched across the narrow part of the Hudson River. It went from the island to the mainland at West Point. The chain was meant to stop British ships from sailing up the Hudson. This was the second time Americans tried to block the river. The first chain failed to stop the British.
The Great Chain stayed in place from 1778 to 1782. It was only removed in winter when ice blocked the river. After the war, Constitution Island went back to being used by regular citizens.
Tadeusz Kościuszko and Thomas Machin designed a special machine. This machine, called a capstan, helped pull the chain in. Kosciuszko also added more defenses. The first chain had links that were 1.5 inches thick. In 1778, it was replaced with a stronger chain. Its links were 2.25 inches thick, two feet long, and weighed 140 pounds each. This 1500-foot-long chain weighed 186 tons! It floated on huge logs. Forty men would remove the chain each winter.
Warner House: Home of Famous Writers
The Warner House is part of the National Historic Landmark of the United States Military Academy. It is on Constitution Island and managed by the West Point Museum. The Warner family owned the island and lived in the house from 1838 to 1915. Two sisters, Susan Bogert Warner and Anna Bartlett Warner, were very popular writers. Their books sold millions of copies in the United States and England.
The Warner sisters are known as important American women writers of the 1800s. Anna Bartlett Warner wrote the famous song, "Jesus Loves Me." In 1908, Anna Warner sold the island. She sold it to Mrs. Olivia Sage, who was the wife of a rich businessman.
In 1908, Mrs. Russell Sage and Miss Anna Warner gave Constitution Island to the United States government. They had some rules for their gift. They wanted the island to be for the U.S. Military Academy forever. They also said it should never be used for public picnics or amusement parks run for profit.
President Theodore Roosevelt thanked them for their generous gift. He called it a "truly patriotic act." Both sisters are buried at West Point Cemetery.
The Constitution Island Association is a non-profit group. They used to give tours of the island. They also took care of the gardens around the Warner House. The Warner House itself has been closed for safety reasons. But the gardens and grounds are open on some summer days. The Military Academy has improved the roads, drainage, and trails. The West Point Museum and the U.S. Army Garrison are building an Education Center. This project is a team effort and funded by the U.S. Army.
Images for kids
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Sign near caretaker's cottage
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Viewed from Trophy Point during Winter
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Cannon on site of original Ft. Constitution
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Ft. Constitution information plaque
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Panoramic view of the island looking east
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Gravel Hill Battery plaque
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Map of West Point fortifications from 1775 to 1783 showing the island and vicinity
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Information plaque at boat dock
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Fortress West Point info plaque at boat dock
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Great Chain historical marker at the boat dock
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The Warner house c1908
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Warner House, July 2010
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Redoubt 7 on western edge of island, as seen from Trophy Point
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Ruins of Redoubt #7 on the western bluff of the island
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View from Sherburne Battery at West Point
See also
- Fort Putnam
- Fort Clinton (West Point)
- Redoubt Four (West Point)
- Kosciuszko's Garden
