Early History

• Over the years, Roosevelt Island has undergone several name changes before the present moniker was adopted in 1973. In pre-colonial times, the Indians referred to the place as Long Island. Then in 1676, the island was settled by the Blackwell family, which owned the place for 150 years. During that time, the small piece of land was called Blackwell Island.
  
  

'Renwick's Ruin'

• John Renwick Jr., who also designed Grace Church, the Smithsonian Building, and St. Patrick's Cathedral, did the design work for the hospital. Then in 1856, the medical facility began operation as a place to quarantine and treat smallpox victims. This situation lasted until the end of the 19th century, when a cure for the disease was developed. Since then the structure has fallen into disrepair and is often referred to as "Renwick's Ruin."
  
  

Present Day Plans

• Since its closure at the end of the 1800s, the unused hospital has grown a new coat of ivy. In the 1900s, the roof collapsed, giving the strange structure a castle-like appearance. However, in recent years, since the state has delegated control of the island to a public corporation, the walls have been stabilized and plans are underway to surround the old hospital with a new park called, "Wild Gardens, Green Rooms."