Mount Loretto Unique Area facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Mount Loretto Unique Area View looking across Mount Loretto Unique Area; Church of St. Joachim and St. Anne in the distance Lua error in Module:Location_map at line 420: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value). Location Staten Island, New York Nearest city New York City Area 241 acres (98 ha) Established 1999 Governing body New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Mount Loretto's Pavilion

Mount Loretto Unique Area is a special outdoor area and nature park on the South Shore of Staten Island, New York City. The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation manages this area. It covers about 241 acres (98 ha), and 49 acres (20 ha) of that is underwater.

History of Mount Loretto

Princes Bay Light on a bluff at Mount Loretto Unique Area

Mount Loretto used to be the biggest orphanage in New York State. It was started by Father John Christopher Drumgoole, a priest who wanted to help poor children. He bought the land on Staten Island in the 1890s. He named it "Mount Loretto" to honor one of the nuns who worked with him. A special train line, the Mount Loretto Spur, even served the orphanage.

The land that is now Mount Loretto Unique Area was bought from the Archdiocese of New York in 1999. The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation purchased it. Before the state took over, there were several buildings on the property. One large building, the St. Elisabeth's girls' dormitory, was destroyed by fire. This happened while the land was being transferred to the state.

Nature and Geography

Today, Mount Loretto has about one mile (1.6 km) of shoreline. This shoreline faces Prince's Bay and Raritan Bay. Along the coast, you can see the tallest ocean-facing bluffs in New York State. These bluffs reach a height of 75 feet (23 m).

The Bluffs and Glacier History

The tall bluffs are part of a terminal moraine. This is a pile of clay and gravel left behind by glaciers. They are remnants from the Wisconsin Glacier. This huge ice sheet reached its farthest point south right here on Staten Island. The highest bluff is home to an old lighthouse. This is the Princes Bay Light. The stone lighthouse was built in 1864. Its keeper's cottage was added in 1868. This lighthouse is now a New York State Landmark.

Wetlands and Water Features

Shrine of the Immaculate Virgin

Inside the park, besides the bluffs, there are many wetlands. These include both salty (brackish) and fresh water areas. There is also a large vernal pond. A vernal pond is a temporary pond that fills with water in spring and dries up in summer.

Plants and Trees

The park has many different kinds of native plants, shrubs, and trees. This is because the park has many different types of natural areas, called habitats. These diverse habitats allow many different plants to grow here.

Animal Life and Birds

Many types of birds visit Mount Loretto throughout the year. The large mowed fields attract many upland shorebirds. Examples include the buff-breasted sandpiper and upland sandpiper. Other field birds, like the eastern meadowlark and bobolink, can also be seen during their migration.

The wetland areas are home to various waterfowl. These include the wood duck (Aix sponsa), blue and green-winged teal. Many other kinds of ducks, wading birds, and marsh birds also live here. Some rare birds have even visited the park. These include the white ibis, scissor-tailed flycatcher, and western kingbird. The park is also home to snakes, turtles, frogs, and toads. You might also spot raccoons, chipmunks, moles, and field mice.