Check Out This Mysterious Forbidden Island In New York Where No One Has Set Foot In Half A Century

North Brother Island looks like a haunted postcard from New York’s past, all crumbling buildings, tangled vines, and silent halls that have been off-limits for decades. Locals might see it from the water, but no one is supposed to step foot there, and for good reason.

From 1881 to 1943, the island ran Riverside Hospital, where contagious patients like tuberculosis, smallpox, and typhoid fever were quarantined, including the infamous Typhoid Mary. Then it shifted again, housing returning WWII veterans, later turning into a youth drug rehabilitation center in the 1950s, before everything shut down by 1964.

Now it’s a wildlife refuge with a city-sized history problem nobody can ignore.

This abandoned island has been off-limits for over 60 years

Youtube/Two Feet Outdoors

The General Slocum disaster in 1904 already left its mark on the island’s timeline, so it never really felt “just abandoned” to begin with.

The island’s history is as strange as it is tragic. From 1881 to 1943, North Brother Island was home to Riverside Hospital. 

The hospital was used to treat patients with highly contagious diseases like tuberculosis, smallpox, and typhoid fever— the infamous Typhoid Mary herself was quarantined there. The hospital was eventually abandoned, but the island wasn’t done serving a purpose. 

During WWII, it housed returning veterans, and later in the 1950s, it became a drug rehabilitation center for troubled youth. However, by 1964, even that closed, and the island was left to rot.

The city’s Parks and Recreation page details the history as follows:

“Humans occupied North Brother Island for 150 years. The island housed Riverside Hospital from 1881 to 1943,  WWII veterans’ housing from 1946 to 1951, and a youth drug rehabilitation center from 1952 to 1964.

“The island was also the site of the General Slocum disaster in 1904. The primary tenant on the island was the city-owned and operated Riverside Hospital, including the Tuberculosis Sanatorium and pavilions for designated illnesses, laboratories, as well as homes and dormitory facilities for doctors, nurses, and other staff members.”

Today, North Brother Island is a crumbling time capsule. Its twenty-five dilapidated buildings sit abandoned, overtaken by vines and trees, slowly decaying in the shadow of the city.

Urban historians often emphasize that abandoned sites like North Brother Island tell stories of our past, reflecting societal changes over decades. Exploring these remnants can provide insights into how we handle public health today, suggesting that understanding our history is critical for future resilience.

Inside the crumbling walls of New York's long-forgotten Island

Youtube/Two Feet Outdoors

After Typhoid Mary was quarantined at Riverside Hospital, it’s easy to see why the city would treat the place like a closed chapter, not a weekend adventure.

Wedding tension aside, this is like the sister who debated whether announcing her pregnancy at her wedding was wrong.

Once the island moved from veterans’ housing to a youth rehabilitation center, the purpose kept changing, but the risks stayed buried under those decaying walls.

But while the human history has faded, the island has become a haven for wildlife. In fact, the main reason it remains closed to the public is that it’s a protected nesting ground for herons, egrets, and other bird species. 

After nearly being wiped out in the 19th century due to hunting and pollution, these birds have made a comeback, and North Brother Island is now one of their safest habitats.

If you’re itching to visit this haunting piece of New York history, you’ll need a compelling academic or scientific reason – and a permit to go with it. Otherwise, North Brother Island will remain one of New York's most intriguing and inaccessible secrets.

And even though the island is now crawling with wildlife, the city still keeps it off-limits, because a protected habitat does not care that your curiosity is loud.

Lessons from Abandonment

Environmental experts argue that sites like North Brother Island can be valuable for ecological recovery and urban sustainability. Incorporating more natural habitats in urban layouts can improve biodiversity and enhance residents' quality of life, suggesting that revitalizing abandoned places could be a strategic move for city planners.

The abandoned North Brother Island stands as a symbol of the tensions between urban growth and environmental stewardship in New York City. This forgotten location invites us to reflect on the complexities of our urban landscape, where the relentless push for development often overshadows the significance of historical sites. The allure of such mysterious islands prompts a necessary conversation about how we can learn from the past to address contemporary social and ecological issues. As cities continue to evolve, the lessons offered by places like North Brother Island may prove crucial in fostering urban resilience and maintaining a harmonious relationship between our built environment and the natural world.

North Brother Island is basically New York’s “don’t open that drawer” file, still sealed in rust and vines.

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