The National Museum of the American Indian held a "Making Our Presence Known" festival this weekend on Governor's Island in NY Harbor. None of us had ever been there, so we decided this was a good reason for a visit. We took the (free) ferry over, and set about exploring. Mikro wanted to do the Junior Ranger program, so he read the instructions, and then we started wandering.
First we stopped at NMAI's area, where we went inside a tipi, saw a gustoweh, a plains style war bonnet, and dolls from any different nations. Then we watched the Thunderbird Native American Dancers performing social dances and enjoyed some storytelling, comedy, and flute playing-- both the ordinary flute, and nose flute.
Then we visited Castle Williams and Fort Jay. These fortifications were used to protect New York during the War of 1812. We learned a bit about the history, and enjoyed the spectacular views of the Harbor, Ellis Island, the Statue of Liberty and lower Manhattan.
Fort Jay was built in 1794. (Prior to that, in April 1776, Continental troops were stationed on the island.) It is an four bastioned (spear shaped corners) earthen fort, partially lined with brick , surrounded by a dry moat, and containing 51 embrasures (cannon openings). There is a really nice eagle statue atop the gate house.
Castle Williams is closed for rennovations. It is a teardrop shaped structure very near the shoreline. We walked around it, and read about it. It was designed and built between 1807 and 1811 by Col. Jonathan Williams, Chief Engineer of the US Army Corps of Engineers, to strengthen the harbor's defense system. It later served as a prison for Confederate soldiers during the Civil War (officers were held at Fort Jay), and then as a community center.
We also toured Governor's House (which never housed a governor, but did serve as a gate house, and as the Commanding Officer's quarters.)
Along the way, Kevin helped reunite a frantic mother mallard with her ducklings, and I got eaten alive sitting in the grass, perhaps by the pretty polkadotted insect below.
Mikro finished his Junior Ranger activities and received a Junior Ranger Badge. It was his first one, and he was quite proud of himself. We took the ferry into the city, and headed uptown to visit Mikro's aunt and youngest cousin.
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