Visitor Information
Governors Island is free and open to the public Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. The indoor installations and Visitors Center of This World & Nearer Ones are open Fridays 11am–4pm, and Saturdays and Sundays 12–6pm through September 20th.
Getting There
FERRY Free The Governors Island Ferry departs from the Battery Maritime Building, adjacent to the Staten Island Ferry Terminal in Lower Manhattan, every hour.
For a complete schedule of ferry service and updates regarding service changes, visit www.govisland.com/Visit_the_Island/directions.asp.
By Subway:
1 to South Ferry Station
4, 5 (weekdays) to Bowling Green
W (weekdays), R to Whitehall Street Station
By Bus:
M1 (weekdays only), M6, M15 to South Ferry and M9 to Battery Park City
Saturdays only, Brooklyn Ferry Service will run between Fulton Ferry Landing and Governors Island’s Pier 101. Schedule will vary throughout the summer.
NEW YORK WATER TAXI
A New York Water Taxi stop on Governors Island will be added to the Hop-On/Hop-Off route this summer. For a complete schedule, visit www.nywatertaxi.com.
KAYAK
Free Kayaks are available on a walk-up basis from Downtown Boathouse at two locations.
Pier 40: West Side Highway at Houston, Weekends only
Pier 96: Clinton Cove Park, West Side Highway and 56th Street
For further information about facilities and policies, visit www.downtownboathouse.org.
Getting Around
WALKING TOURS
Free Walking tours of This World & Nearer Ones depart from the Creative Time Visitor Center on Governors Island, Building 20, Nolan Park, Friday-Sunday, 2:30pm. Tours are led by Creative Time staff and last one hour. No reservations required.
TRAM TOURS
Free Trams tour the entire National Historic District of Governors Island. Hop on and off to get around the island, or take the historic tour beginning at Fort Jay to learn about the island’s past 200 years. No reservations are required. Hours vary.
BIKES
Visitors can bring their own bikes to Governors Island or rent them from Bike and Roll, located to the left as visitors exit the ferry, between the Security Center and Pershing Hall. There are over six miles of car-free biking on the island.
Bike and Roll is open Friday 10am-5pm, Saturday-Sunday 10am-6pm
Regular Rates Adult bikes; $15 for 2 hours. Surreys, children’s bikes and trailers, wagons, and other accessories available in limited supply; prices vary.
Free Bike Fridays On Fridays, Bike and Roll bikes are free (accessories and specialty bikes extra). Limit 1 hour.
Reservations are encouraged, but not necessary, at www.bikerental.com/newyork/index.html.
While You’re There
CREATIVE TIME VISITOR CENTER
Building 20, Nolan Park
Watch a video introducing This World & Near Ones, pick up literature on Creative Time, and meet for walking tours of the exhibition.
RESTROOMS
Restrooms are available throughout the island. Please see the map on pages 32-33.
FOOD & DRINK
There are a wide variety of reasonably priced vendors on the island, open during regular hours. Please see the map on pages 32-33.
A new Water Taxi Beach will offer food, drink, and entertainment. Opens July 4.
ARTS & LEISURE
Additional, ongoing arts and leisure activities.
Exhibition: Governors Island Park Master Plan
Free Building 110, beginning July 1
Drawings, models, and renderings illustrate activities, places, elements, habitats, and the future of the island.
Exhibition: Formative Lines: Working in Drawing and Sculpture
Free Building 19
Drawings and sculptures from 25 members of the Sculptors Guild, juried by curators Rachel Liebowitz and Joanna Kleinberg of the Drawing Center.
Exhibition: Painting Governors Island
Free Historic Building 408
Eight painters exhibit their watercolors and oil paintings made on site, on Governors Island.
Miniature Golf
Free Throughout the island, Saturday and Sunday, 12pm–4pm
This artist-designed, 18-hole course with a City of Hope theme is produced by Figment.
Fishing
Free Promenade
Visitors can fish anywhere along the promenade with their own equipment.
Added Value Farm
Free Picnic Point
A three-acre farm growing vegetables and featuring animals, educational programs for visitors, and farmers market selling vegetables and flowers.
Lectures
National Park Service
Free Pershing Hall, Saturdays and Sundays, June 27–August 8 (except July 4, 5, 11). For times and topics, please visit www.nps.gov/gois/planyourvisit/2009-national-park-service-lecture-series-at-governors-island-national-monument.htm.
The City University of New York
Free Pershing Hall, Saturdays, June 27–September 5 (except July 4), 12:30pm
For the fourth year running, CUNY presents a lecture series with a theme of Sustainable Cities. For times and speakers, visit www.cunysustainablecities.org.
Kids
National Park Service Friday Morning Summer Programs
Free Fort Jay and Castle Williams, Fridays beginning July 3, 10:15am–1pm
Kids will have the opportunity to meet with a National Park Ranger, Union Soldier, Confederate Prisoner, or a middle class lady from 1863 to get a sense of the Island’s history from multiple perspectives.
Children’s Museum of the Arts (CMA)
Free Building 14
CMA hosts Music Time for children aged ten months to eight years, Saturday and Sunday, 12:30 and 2:30. Watercolor kits are available for independent practice, children ages six to fourteen. A parent must leave ID to check out a kit. Limit 2 hours.
CMA teaching artists also lead workshops in painting, drawing, collage, sculpture, installation, and more. For weekly themes and further details, please visit www.cmany.org.
Getting There
FERRY Free The Governors Island Ferry departs from the Battery Maritime Building, adjacent to the Staten Island Ferry Terminal in Lower Manhattan, every hour.
For a complete schedule of ferry service and updates regarding service changes, visit www.govisland.com/Visit_the_Island/directions.asp.
By Subway:
1 to South Ferry Station
4, 5 (weekdays) to Bowling Green
W (weekdays), R to Whitehall Street Station
By Bus:
M1 (weekdays only), M6, M15 to South Ferry and M9 to Battery Park City
Saturdays only, Brooklyn Ferry Service will run between Fulton Ferry Landing and Governors Island’s Pier 101. Schedule will vary throughout the summer.
NEW YORK WATER TAXI
A New York Water Taxi stop on Governors Island will be added to the Hop-On/Hop-Off route this summer. For a complete schedule, visit www.nywatertaxi.com.
KAYAK
Free Kayaks are available on a walk-up basis from Downtown Boathouse at two locations.
Pier 40: West Side Highway at Houston, Weekends only
Pier 96: Clinton Cove Park, West Side Highway and 56th Street
For further information about facilities and policies, visit www.downtownboathouse.org.
Getting Around
WALKING TOURS
Free Walking tours of This World & Nearer Ones depart from the Creative Time Visitor Center on Governors Island, Building 20, Nolan Park, Friday-Sunday, 2:30pm. Tours are led by Creative Time staff and last one hour. No reservations required.
TRAM TOURS
Free Trams tour the entire National Historic District of Governors Island. Hop on and off to get around the island, or take the historic tour beginning at Fort Jay to learn about the island’s past 200 years. No reservations are required. Hours vary.
BIKES
Visitors can bring their own bikes to Governors Island or rent them from Bike and Roll, located to the left as visitors exit the ferry, between the Security Center and Pershing Hall. There are over six miles of car-free biking on the island.
Bike and Roll is open Friday 10am-5pm, Saturday-Sunday 10am-6pm
Regular Rates Adult bikes; $15 for 2 hours. Surreys, children’s bikes and trailers, wagons, and other accessories available in limited supply; prices vary.
Free Bike Fridays On Fridays, Bike and Roll bikes are free (accessories and specialty bikes extra). Limit 1 hour.
Reservations are encouraged, but not necessary, at www.bikerental.com/newyork/index.html.
While You’re There
CREATIVE TIME VISITOR CENTER
Building 20, Nolan Park
Watch a video introducing This World & Near Ones, pick up literature on Creative Time, and meet for walking tours of the exhibition.
RESTROOMS
Restrooms are available throughout the island. Please see the map on pages 32-33.
FOOD & DRINK
There are a wide variety of reasonably priced vendors on the island, open during regular hours. Please see the map on pages 32-33.
A new Water Taxi Beach will offer food, drink, and entertainment. Opens July 4.
ARTS & LEISURE
Additional, ongoing arts and leisure activities.
Exhibition: Governors Island Park Master Plan
Free Building 110, beginning July 1
Drawings, models, and renderings illustrate activities, places, elements, habitats, and the future of the island.
Exhibition: Formative Lines: Working in Drawing and Sculpture
Free Building 19
Drawings and sculptures from 25 members of the Sculptors Guild, juried by curators Rachel Liebowitz and Joanna Kleinberg of the Drawing Center.
Exhibition: Painting Governors Island
Free Historic Building 408
Eight painters exhibit their watercolors and oil paintings made on site, on Governors Island.
Miniature Golf
Free Throughout the island, Saturday and Sunday, 12pm–4pm
This artist-designed, 18-hole course with a City of Hope theme is produced by Figment.
Fishing
Free Promenade
Visitors can fish anywhere along the promenade with their own equipment.
Added Value Farm
Free Picnic Point
A three-acre farm growing vegetables and featuring animals, educational programs for visitors, and farmers market selling vegetables and flowers.
Lectures
National Park Service
Free Pershing Hall, Saturdays and Sundays, June 27–August 8 (except July 4, 5, 11). For times and topics, please visit www.nps.gov/gois/planyourvisit/2009-national-park-service-lecture-series-at-governors-island-national-monument.htm.
The City University of New York
Free Pershing Hall, Saturdays, June 27–September 5 (except July 4), 12:30pm
For the fourth year running, CUNY presents a lecture series with a theme of Sustainable Cities. For times and speakers, visit www.cunysustainablecities.org.
Kids
National Park Service Friday Morning Summer Programs
Free Fort Jay and Castle Williams, Fridays beginning July 3, 10:15am–1pm
Kids will have the opportunity to meet with a National Park Ranger, Union Soldier, Confederate Prisoner, or a middle class lady from 1863 to get a sense of the Island’s history from multiple perspectives.
Children’s Museum of the Arts (CMA)
Free Building 14
CMA hosts Music Time for children aged ten months to eight years, Saturday and Sunday, 12:30 and 2:30. Watercolor kits are available for independent practice, children ages six to fourteen. A parent must leave ID to check out a kit. Limit 2 hours.
CMA teaching artists also lead workshops in painting, drawing, collage, sculpture, installation, and more. For weekly themes and further details, please visit www.cmany.org.