Exploring Urban Decay: 10 Abandoned Places in New York City That Hold Hidden Stories.

North Brother Island is an uninhabited island in the East River of New York City.  The island is notable for its Riverside Hospital, established in the late 19th century to isolate and treat people with infectious diseases such as smallpox and tuberculosis.

 
In 1904, the island served as a temporary morgue and helped identify the victims when a steamship carrying German immigrants sank nearby, killing over a thousand people.  

In the mid-20th century, the hospital was remodeled to treat drug addicts.  In the 1960s, the hospital facilities were discontinued and the island was abandoned.  
Since then, the island has thrived without human activity, providing homes for wildlife and flora.  It is a sanctuary for bird species.

Kings Park Psychiatric Center is also known as Spark County Hospital.  The Hospital for the Insane was founded in 1885 as a mental health facility in Kings Park, New York, originally designed to treat people with mental illnesses and disorders.  

It was with expansions that have taken place over the years. It is a self-sustaining area with a power plant, farms, and recreational facilities.  By the twentieth century, the psychiatric center had reached its maximum capacity, and in the 1970s, the hospital's population began to decline, leading to the closure of many buildings.

 
By the 1990s, its patients had moved elsewhere for treatment.  Those who recovered were released into the community.  
Most of the buildings were dilapidated and this place was also known for being haunted.  After its closure, Kings Park Psychiatric Center became famous among urban explorers and photographers.

Pollepel Island is also known as Banamar Island. It is an island located in the Hudson River in New York, USA. It is famous for its beautiful scenery and the historical Banamar castle located on top of a hill.

The island is approximately 6.5 acres in size and about 50 miles from New York, Further north, Francis Banamar, a Lancaster, purchased the island in the early 1900s to store his surplus military equipment and ammunition.  

A Symbolic Landmark Unfortunately the fort was destroyed in a fire in 1960 and has since become an abandoned site, however, parts of the building still stand and can be called an intriguing historical and scenic spot that attracts regular tourists.

Grossinger’s Catskill Resort hotel is a historic and beautiful abandoned resort located in the Catskill mountains of New York, USA.
This resort was founded in 1919 by New York asher Selig Grossinger and his wife. Gradually growing and expanding over the years, the Grossinger resort became a sprawling complex with a variety of amenities and activities for guests. 

 
By the middle of the 20th century, it had become a popular stopover, even among celebrities.  Grossinger's offers a wide range of amenities, including a golf course, swimming pools, tennis courts, and a lake for boating and fishing.  
Unfortunately, Grossinger ran into financial difficulties and closed its doors in 1986, marking the end of a very prosperous era for the resort.  

An abandoned place today, it has fallen into disrepair, but the scenic remains of the resort can still be seen.

It was designed by architect Henry Hobson Richardson and built in the late 19th century.  The hospital, which opened its doors in 1880, emphasizes the importance of natural surroundings and architecture in the healing process.
The Buffalo State Asylum had a distinctive Victorian Gothic design with a large central tower and flanking wings. 

Its architecture aims to create a peaceful and therapeutic environment for patients, and large windows allow for ample natural light and views of the surroundings.

Over time, the hospital faced challenges as patient numbers increased and approaches to mental health services changed.  The facilities gradually fell into disuse and were abandoned in the 1970s.
Today, Buffalo State is known as the Richardson Olmsted Campus.  The abandoned hospital is named after architect and landscape designer Frederick Law Olmsted.  
Efforts have been made to preserve and restore historic buildings and grounds of significant architectural and cultural value.

Letchworth Village is a residential facility for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities located in Rockland County, New York, USA.  It was established in 1911 and operated for decades.

When Letch Worth Village opened in 1911, it was hailed as a progressive new model for the care of the mentally ill.  Instead of being confined to a single building, patients lived in their own “village,” complete with farms, shops, and even places of worship.

After decades of mounting criticism, including allegations that the hospital used patients as guinea pigs to test new experimental drugs, Letch Worth Village finally closed in the late 1990s amid awareness and advocacy for improved care and rights for people with disabilities.

Closed and abandoned today, its dilapidated buildings are slowly decaying and it has become a unique stop for people with urban exploration and historical interest.  
The history of Letch Worth Village is a reminder of the need to treat people with disabilities compassionately and ethically.

Another beautiful tourist attraction in New York City is the Freedom Tunnel, a tunnel that runs under Site Park, a haven for graffiti artists and the homeless.  
Robert Moses created this tunnel after his highway expansion was blocked by the river.  

This was soon abandoned in hopes of increasing travel for Upper West Side residents.  But later became a home for the homeless and a canvas for street artists.

 
In 1991, Amtrak reopened the tunnel and mostly evacuated the hundreds of homeless people who lived there.  
In 2009, most of the murals were lost during the repainting of the Amtrak tunnel.  At present, it is forbidden to enter without permission.  
Named after graffiti artist Chris 'Freedom', the Subway is an amazing gallery of art that can be explored without legal and professional ramifications. A visit might be interesting as the place has been colored with many street arts by different types of street artists.

One of the oldest forts in the United States, Fort Wadsworth is located on Staten Island.  It has a rich history dating back to the Dutch era.

Established by the Dutch in the early 17th century, the site was later fortified by the British during the American Revolution.  Today the area is open to the public as part of the Gateway National Forest Recreation Area.

The public can access the fort and engage in various recreational activities such as hiking, picnicking, and bird watching.

The American Sugar Refinery Company controlled much of the US sugar industry by the late nineteenth century.  In 1919, it was a thriving factory employing about 4,500 workers.

Unfortunately, the original structures were destroyed by fire and the present building was reconstructed in 1882 by Theodore A. Havemeyer, Thomas Winslow, and J.E. James.

Now known as a park, it covers an area of 11 acres.  I suggest this as a suitable place to go with your loved ones to get some rest.

Bennett College was founded in Irvington, New York in 1890 as the Bennett School for Girls by Bennett, a four-year high school with an additional two years of study.

In 1907 the school enrolled 120 students and a faculty of 29.  In the early 20th century the school discontinued its high school grades and became a junior college, changing its name to Bennett College.

The majors at this college included art, fashion design, interior design, music, modern languages, literature, history, dance, drama, child development, equestrian studies, and domestic science.  Activities at Bennett included gymnastics, golf, tennis, horseback riding, and skiing.

On August 9, 1977, the doors of this college were closed forever due to the financial crisis and bankruptcy of the administrators.  When the school closed there were about 300 students who were transferred to Marist College in New York City.