Roosevelt Island in Manhattan in New York County, New York — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Blackwell's Island
A Birthplace of Investigative Journalism
The New York City Lunatic Asylum opened in 1839 to house psychiatric patients. Streamer boats transported patients to the island, where they were separated from the rest of society. Charles Dickens described the "lounging, listless, madhouse air" of the institution in his book American Notes, written after his 1842 visit.
In 1887, New York World reporter Elizabeth Cochrane, writing under the pseudonym Nellie Bly, feigned strange behavior and was brought to the Asylum. On assignment from publisher Joseph Pulitzer, Bly received the same treatment as the patients. Her report, later published as the book Ten Days in a Madhouse, is considered among the first pieces of investigative journalism and led to improvements in the treatment of psychiatric patients.
The Asylum building became part of Metropolitan Hospital in 1894, and was shuttered in 1955. The landmark Octagon, originally the administrative center and main entrance hall of the facility, was restored in 2006. New wings were added and the structure is now a residential apartment house.
Erected 2016 by Society of Professional Journalists.
Topics and series.
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Location. 40° 45.459′ N, 73° 57.281′ W. Marker is in Manhattan, New York, in New York County. It is on Roosevelt Island. It can be reached from West Main Street east of West Road, on the right when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 12 W Main St, Elmsford NY 10523, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in New York City. It is also in the American Northeast, in the Mid-Atlantic, and on the Eastern Seaboard. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region, North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Netherland and also one of the original Thirteen Colonies.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Queensboro Bridge Trolley Kiosk (a few
Another marker is no longer nearby. 24 Sycamores Playground (was approx. Ό mile away but has been permanently removed).
Additional commentary.
1. Location of the Marker
This marker is inside of the Roosevelt Island Historical Society's Visitor Center. While visiting the island, I was informed by the historical society contact inside of the Visitor Center that the plaque was originally hung outside then moved indoors.
— Submitted August 17, 2022, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.
Credits. This page was last revised on January 31, 2023. It was originally submitted on August 17, 2022, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 599 times since then and 35 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on August 17, 2022, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.
