Bannerman's Island
MID HUDSON
http://www.bannermancastle.org/
The Bannerman Castle Trust, Inc.
P.O. Box 843
Glenham, NY 12527-0843
Phone: 845-831-6346
Hours: May thru October
Two and one-half hour Hard Hat walking tours are given: Saturdays and Sundays at 12:00 noon, departing from Torches Restaurant’s dock at the Newburgh waterfront on board the 46 passenger vessel, The Pollepell. Tickets can be purchased at 26 Front St.
$40. per person – Reservations Required
Tours are also available from the dock on the Beacon waterfront Saturdays and Sundays, departing at 1:30. $40. per person – Discounts available thru Metro-North if traveling from NYC. Reservations Required Call: 845-220-2120 or 845-831-1001
Two hour Bannerman Island Lecture Tours on board the 139 passenger vessel The Pride of the Hudson departs from The Torches Dock in Newburgh at 1:00p.m. Call: 845-220-2120
Historical Description:
Pollepel Island, now known as Bannerman’s Island was suspected of being haunted by the local Indians and became a refuge for early Dutch settlers. It also marked the end of the difficult navigational passage through the Hudson Highlands. Francis Bannerman, an ammunition and government surplus dealer bought the island, from the Taft Family, in 1900, while looking for safe storage after being forced to leave Manhattan. Built as a Scottish Castle at the height of the Gilded Age, the island was a storage site for equipment of every description as well as ammunition. In addition, the Bannerman Family used the island for their summer residence. In 1967, the island was sold to the Taconic Park Commission.
The Site:
Bannerman Castle was built on Pollepel Island which sits like a sentinel in the gap between Breakneck Ridge and Storm King Mountain and can only be reached by a boat with a shallow draft due to the depth of the water surrounding the island even at high tide. The tour includes a new film featuring renowned stage and screen actress, Jane Alexander, who narrates the early history of the Bannerman Island. The Bannerman Island – Hudson Highlands State Park walking tour requires walking up and down 68 steps, steep inclines and sometimes rough trails. Strollers are not encouraged on the island. The island currently is not handicapped accessible; however, a film is supplied for people who cannot tour the island.
Directions:
From NYC:
Take I-87 north or I-87 south from Albany to Exit 17 and merge onto NY-300/ Union Ave via Exit 17 toward I-84.
Merge onto I-84 E toward Beacon. Take the US-9W/ RT-32 exit – Exit 10 towards Newburgh. Turn right onto US- 9W/NY-32. After 0.8 miles, turn Left onto South St. Next turn Right onto Water St. Turn Left onto 4th St. End at Torches on the Hudson. Beacon Launch site:
Continue on I-84 across Newburgh-Beacon Bridge taking first exit Rt-9D; Exit-11- toward Beacon/Wappinger Falls. Turn right onto 9D for 0.6 miles, and then turn onto Beekman St for 0.5miles. Turn Right onto Red Flynn Dr. End at Riverfront Park.
