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. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Arts, Letters, Music • Communications
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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. Marker 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.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Queensboro Bridge Trolley Kiosk (a few steps from this marker); Cornell Tech / Blackwell's Island Penitentiary / Goldwater Hospital / WPA-Era Murals (approx. 0.2 miles away); East River Roundabout (approx. 0.2 miles away); Dr. Alice Childress (approx. ¼ mile away); 24 Sycamores Playground (approx. ¼ mile away); Roosevelt Island and the Blackwell House (approx. ¼ mile away); Blackwell House (approx. ¼ mile away); Ieoh Ming (I.M.) Pei (approx. 0.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Manhattan.
Additional commentary.
1. Location of the
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 219 times since then and 46 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on August 17, 2022, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.
