Naval Munitions Depot

In 1899, the U.S. Navy purchased the property, located on an island, to establish it as a naval ammunition depot, which became one of the largest facilities of its type in the country at that time. On November 4, 1903, a tragic explosion at the site resulted in the deaths of six workers and shattered windows in Peekskill, located three miles away. The incident occurred while workers were extracting explosive charges from a shipment of old shells that had just arrived from the battleship Massachusetts. The depot was a key supplier of munitions during both World War I and World War II, remaining in operation until 1947. Today, only about five of the original 164 arsenal buildings are still standing, and they are currently utilized for storage by the park. From the end of World War II until the early 1970s, the area was also known as the mooring site for the famous "mothball fleet" of decommissioned warships. The island was acquired by the Palisades Interstate Park Commission in 1965 and was designated a National Natural Landmark by the National Park Service in 1974. Currently functioning as an active wildlife sanctuary, although public canoeing and kayaking are prohibited in the marsh, free guided canoeing programs are offered during the summer. It’s worth noting that the waterways surrounding the marsh are influenced by tides and are considered "navigable-in-law" for public access.

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