Roosevelt Island in Manhattan in New York County, New York — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

Roosevelt Island

United for Libraries Literary Landmarks Register

Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), August 13, 2022

1. Roosevelt Island Marker

Inscription. Formerly known as Blackwell's Island, it was the site of the New York City Lunatic Asylum that was the basis for Nellie Bly's expose in Ten Days in a Mad-House (1887). Charles Dickens also speaks of it in his American Notes (1842). The island was also the site of a penitentiary mentioned in Horatio Alger's Ragged Dick (1867); Stephen Crane's novelette "Maggie, A Girl of the Streets" (1893); O. Henry's short story "The Cop and the Anthem" (1904) and Eugene O'Neil's The Hairy Ape (1922).

Erected 2016 by Empire State Center for the Book.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Arts, Letters, Music • Communications • Law Enforcement • Science & Medicine. In addition, it is included in the Literary Landmarks series list.

Location. 40° 45.654′ N, 73° 57.042′ W. Marker is in Manhattan, New York, in New York County. It is on Roosevelt Island. It is on Main Street north of West Road, on the left when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 504 Main St, New York NY 10044, United States of America.

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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: Blackwell House (within shouting distance of this marker); Roosevelt Island and the Blackwell House (within shouting distance of this marker); The Chapel of the Good Shepherd (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); Dr. Alice Childress (about 400 feet away); Queensboro Bridge Trolley Kiosk (approx. 0.3 miles away); Blackwell's Island (approx. 0.3 miles away); East River Roundabout (approx. 0.4 miles away); Cornell Tech / Blackwell's Island Penitentiary / Goldwater Hospital / WPA-Era Murals (approx. half a mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Manhattan.

Another marker is no longer nearby. 24 Sycamores Playground (was

Roosevelt Island Marker on the north side of the Roosevelt Island Library image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), August 13, 2022

2. Roosevelt Island Marker on the north side of the Roosevelt Island Library

approx. 0.4 miles away but has been permanently removed).

Additional keywords. investigative journalism

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 331 times since then and 19 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on August 17, 2022, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.