New York’s Mysterious Castle On The Hudson

Most New Yorkers who have taken the Metro-North up to points north may have noticed the abandoned castle lurking on a small island in the middle of the Hudson River.

Some know it as Bannerman Castle, the name emblazoned on its exterior. Fewer know that the castle was built on Pollepel Island by Frank Bannerman, an early 20th-century dealer in munitions and other military surplus, to store weapons and explosives, according to the castle’s website. 

But artist Melissa McGill reached further back in the island’s history, to the Native Americans who lived in the region, for her art installation, Constellation. Referencing a Lenape story about the stars connecting our world with the great beyond, McGill has installed a mini constellation that floats just above the castle and parts of the island. The hand-blown glass globes light up as dusk settles.

Tours of the island and installation have just resumed for 2017, which is the third and final year of Constellation. For more information on the project and to book a tour, head to the project’s website. Check Atlas Obscura for more on the history of Bannerman Castle.

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