Bannerman Castle.
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Pollepel Island, better-known as Bannerman Island, is situated on the Hudson River between Beacon and Cold Spring, New York. It's a place steeped in myth and legend, dating back centuries. The Native Americans thought it to be haunted. The Dutch began writing about the Island more than 400 years ago. George Washington approved a military prison to be built on it during the Revolutionary War. Vassar College founder Matthew Vassar wanted to erect a giant statue of Henry Hudson on it. The Island gained even more notoriety during the 20th century when Francis Bannerman purchased the Island in 1900, eventually building a castle-shaped warehouse on it to store goods for his arms business, along with numerous other eccentric buildings on it, including his family's home. Perhaps you're one of the millions of people who have seen it pass by while on the train between here and New York City.
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Francis Bannerman would pass away in 1917, leaving his business - which would become the first army-navy store, to his family. There were various amounts of activity on the Island through the 1950s. In the late 1960s, the ownership was transferred to the State of New York. In 1969, a huge fire believed to be caused by vandals consumed the castle warehouse over the course of 3 days, and devastated most of the other structures on the Island. Afterward, the Island was closed to the public, and sit unused and in disrepair for two decades.
In the early 1990s, the Bannerman Castle Trust, a local non-profit group dedicated to providing tours of the Island and stabilizing its remaining structures was formed. Since then, they've worked tirelessly to create the infrastructure to host public tours there, so people could experience the Island first hand. The Bannerman Castle Trust has made significant improvements to the Island, bring its legendary trains and gardens back to life, as well as stabilizing the scenic ruins of the castle, and stabilizing and rehabilitating the Bannerman Family Residence, which they hope to open in 2017 as an interpretive visitors center. |
View of the ornate towers that were part of the Island's harbor.
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While going to the Island alone is against the law, the public is allowed and welcome to visit the Island exclusively through the Bannerman Castle Trust. Each year, thousands of people visit Bannerman Island to attend walking tours, self-guided tours, hikes to the summit of the Island, live music and theatrical performances, overnight photography workshops, picnics, dinners, garden parties and much more! The views from Bannerman Island are among the best in the Hudson Valley. Tours depart from the waterfront in Beacon and Newburgh, New York, every Saturday and Sunday, from May through October. Tickets are $40 per adult, and $35 per child 11 and under.
Watch the Bannerman Island commercial we made, and click here to request a quote for a commercial for you, your group or business.