Hell Gate Walking Tour: Explore New York's Treacherous History
5.0
5 Ratings
New York
Duration:
2 hours, 45 minutes
Cancellation:
1 day
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Highlights
- A viewpoint for observing Hell Gate, Mill Rock, and Roosevelt Island.
- A viewpoint towards Astoria Park and the Triborough Bridge, also showcasing aspects of Wards Island.
- At the Wards Island side of Hell Gate Bridge, tour participants will learn about the distinctive engineering of a renowned bridge and the plan to destroy it.
- Tour participants will witness the remains of Little Hell Gate that divided the islands, the truss bridge over the concealed strait, and classic film sites. They will observe the northern portion of Hell Gate from Sunken Meadow, the erstwhile islands connected to Astoria, and the power facilities of the East River.
- A viewpoint of Rikers Island, North and South Brother Islands, and the world’s largest prison vessel.
What's Included
- All fees and/or taxes
What's Not Included
- Tea and coffee
Additional Information
Explore the treacherous Hell Gate section of the East River, which you can view from Randall’s Island. You can reach the island either by foot, car, or bicycle via the RFK Bridge—accessible from East Harlem, Astoria, and Port Morris, or the Wards Island Bridge/103rd Street Footbridge from Manhattan.
Main highlights:
Learn about Hell Gate’s notorious whirlpool that devoured ships, and the destiny of the HMS Hussar.
Discover the thwarted Nazi scheme to destroy the Hell Gate Bridge.
Uncover the transformation of the Hell Gate islands from private lands to a stronghold for psychiatric and detention centres.
Listen to tales of the Hell Gate Explosions and the calamitous General Slocum Disaster.
Gaze at Rikers Island’s jail complex, the abandoned quarantine structures on North Brother Island, and the ex-pirate Mill Rock island.
Location
Randall’s Island Athletic Field #83
East River Lane
Randall's Island Park (the collective name for Randall’s Island to the north and Wards Island to the south) at the Wards Island end of Wards Island Bridge (also known as 103rd Street Footbridge). The Wards Island Bridge connects the island to East Harlem in Manhattan.
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
5.0
(5 Ratings)
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Izumiy
Nov 7, 2022
Best Walking Tours in NYC by Fantastic Storyteller with Deep Knowledge - I took the Hell Gate tour and the Psychiatric History of New York tour, both guided by K. Krombie, the BEST, FANTASTIC storyteller with amazing depth and breadth of knowledge based on her thorough research/investigations of the relevant history. Through her tours, I, a NYC resident, was totally mesmerized afresh by the richness of the city’s history behind both familiar and unfamiliar landscapes, buildings, architectural structures, murals, etc., including those which no longer exist or were buried under the ground. I highly recommend K. Krombie’s guided tours to anybody, NYC residents and tourists alike, who are drawn to the curious and unique history of NYC. I am looking forward to taking her Death in New York tour next.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
366penelopef
Aug 30, 2022
Hell Gate - Krombie gave a comprehensive 2 hour tour of Randalls and Wards Islands and the Hell Gate strait with unflagging enthusiasm on one of the hottest days of the year.! While her tour was clearly thoroughly researched,, her tone was never once pedantic and we were rapt the entire time. Krombie is a treasure! I highly recommend any of her tours, but this one is particularly magical.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Jonnydollar
Aug 14, 2022
The tour was fascinating, informative, and highly entertaining. - The tour was fascinating, informative, and highly entertaining. Amazing amount of history, humor, and intrigue told in that really kept my attention. Lots of information on the many NYC urban myths that are actual real events I have heard over the 30 years I have lived in New York City. Highly recommended.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Bosbinn
Aug 12, 2022
Wonderful tour through the history of Hell Gate. - There were so many parts of this tour that I liked...It's hard to choose one experience. Among my favorites, however, was the tour guide's ability to tell the story of the history of Ward Island, Randal's Island and the surrounding area with such enthusiasm and command of the subject. I knew so little about Hell Gate, but came away with a significant appreciation for the journey people had taken to develop this part of New York City.
For future travelers, wear good walking shoes since there is a lot of territory to cover. Believe me, it will be worth it!!!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Mariecf7953kt
Aug 11, 2022
Deep dive into fascinating histories - Krombie is a passionate and fun storyteller who took us on a whirlpool (excuse the pun) tour of the Hell Gate water from the vantage point of the fascinating and scenic Ward’s/Randall’s Islands. So much information was packed into a tour that covered such intriguing histories as sunken ships, spies, potter’s fields, burial grounds, explosions, movie locations, and the peculiar social institutions that once dotted the islands, as well as the institutions that now exist. Highly recommended for those who like delving into lesser known histories of NYC, and who like exploring spots that even some New Yorkers don’t know about.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
