Roosevelt Island in New York: 7 things to see

Roosevelt Island, named in 1973, is a complete neighborhood with roughly 10,000 residents, 3.4 km (2.1 mi) long and 250 m (820 ft) wide. Until the 19th century, the island was farmland owned by the Blackwell family—it was even called Blackwell Island. From 1921 to 1973, Roosevelt Island became a refuge for the poor and sick, earning the nickname Welfare Island. Here are the top sights to visit on Roosevelt Island.

1/ The Roosevelt Island Tramway

• Roosevelt Island sits 3 km (1.9 mi) long and 240 m (787 ft) wide in the middle of the East River, between Manhattan to the west and Queens to the east. The easiest way to reach the island is by tramway—a unique form of transport in New York, with spectacular views of Midtown buildings along the way.
• The Roosevelt Island Tramway departs from Tramway Plaza at 59th Street and 2nd Avenue, reaching the island in just a few minutes. Your New York subway card, the OMNY MetroCard, covers the tramway fare, so you can make as many round trips as you like. The short ride offers stunning views of the Queensboro Bridge.
• Once on Roosevelt Island, head toward the East River waterfront. Benches along the promenade invite you to take in views of the river, the Queensboro Bridge, and Manhattan’s skyline. In the distance, you’ll hear the hum and honking of Manhattan traffic.

2/ Cornell Tech University

• Cornell Tech’s campus opened on Roosevelt Island in 2017. As its name suggests, Cornell Tech focuses on technology, offering programs in computer science, engineering, and entrepreneurship. The university follows an innovative model that bridges academia and industry.
• The campus welcomes 2,000 students each year to a cutting-edge facility with striking design, including the Tata Innovation Center. In June 2021, the Graduate New York hotel opened with 244 rooms. The 18-story tower rises above the island. On the top floor, grab a drink at the Panorama Room, a stunning rooftop bar with sweeping views of Midtown.

3/ Smallpox Hospital Ruins

• Head south on the island and you’ll spot eerie, ghostly ruins. These are the remains of a former hospital opened in 1856, the Smallpox Hospital. The hospital had 100 beds when it opened and was designed to treat smallpox patients and isolate them in quarantine. It closed in 1875 and later served as a nursing school before being abandoned in the mid-1950s.
• This neo-Gothic structure suffered severe damage from Hurricane Sandy in 2012 but has since been reinforced.
• The island also once housed a prison, which closed in 1935 and was completely demolished.

4/ Four Freedoms Park

• The Four Freedoms Park sits at the southern tip of Roosevelt Island. This memorial, dedicated in 2012, honors Franklin Delano Roosevelt, U.S. president from 1933 to 1945 and a native of New York State.
• The park takes its name from a 1941 speech by Roosevelt on four fundamental freedoms: freedom of speech, freedom of worship, freedom from want, and freedom from fear.
• At the island’s southern end, you’ll enjoy beautiful views of Manhattan and Brooklyn, with the Empire State Building silhouette watching over New York.

5/ Tom Otterness Sculptures

• Head back north along the East River promenade. Past the tramway, you’ll spot quirky metal figures perched above the water at regular intervals. These sculptures are the work of American artist Tom Otterness, adding a playful touch of poetry to the island.
• If you enjoy his work, there’s more to discover around New York. Check out our article on Tom Otterness sculptures in New York.
• The promenade shows how Roosevelt Island truly functions as a self-contained neighborhood with well-organized buildings. The island is home to roughly 8,000 residents.

6/ The Octagon Building

• On Main Street, the island’s main thoroughfare, you can’t miss a cluster of relatively modern residential buildings with an octagonal tower at its center, at number 888. The Octagon Building opened in 1842 as the nation’s first psychiatric asylum for women, the Women’s Lunatic Asylum.
• Writer Charles Dickens and journalist Nellie Bly both visited and were deeply affected by what they saw. Bly went undercover to write an exposé about conditions inside. Her article, “Ten Days in a Madhouse,” published in Joseph Pulitzer’s The New York World, detailed her ten days of confinement and the deplorable conditions and abuse patients endured. The piece outraged readers.

7/ The Lighthouse at the Island’s Northern Tip

• At the far north end of Roosevelt Island stands an elegant brick lighthouse. Designed by James Renwick Jr. in 1872, it’s the work of the same architect who designed the Smallpox Hospital.
• This beautiful structure seems placed to keep boats from catching on the island’s point. It also resembles an imaginary fortress, ready to repel any assault.
• The views here are pleasant and the spot deserves a visit for its quiet. It’s a walk I’d genuinely recommend. The return journey is long, though, and the views from the other side aren’t nearly as striking. We walked back past the fire station, returning the way we came by passing community gardens and crossing a soccer field.
• To return to Manhattan, you have two options: take the tramway again or use the subway. It’s a chance to explore the Lexington Avenue station, one of New York’s most modern subway stations. Your choice!

Tip: Getting Around Roosevelt Island

• A free bus service runs across Roosevelt Island, saving you from walking fatigue. The RIOC Red Bus is easy to spot—look for the red buses. Simply board and get off at your stop of interest.
• Convenient: the line covers the entire island, with a stop at the tramway station.

Roosevelt Island Map