Constitution Island, River island near West Point, New York, US
Constitution Island is a river island in the Hudson River, sitting directly across from the US Military Academy at West Point in New York. The island is connected to the eastern shore by Constitution Marsh and still holds the remains of fortifications built in the 18th century.
American troops began fortifying the island in 1775 to control movement along the Hudson River during the Revolutionary War. After British forces destroyed those defenses in 1777, engineer Tadeusz Kosciuszko redesigned the fortifications using principles he had developed in military engineering.
The Warner sisters made their home here during the 1800s and gained recognition as authors. They taught Bible studies to cadets from across the river, becoming influential figures in the local community.
The island can only be reached through organized tours that depart from West Point, and these tours generally run in the summer months. It is best to arrange a spot in advance, as availability tends to be limited.
From 1778 to 1782, a massive iron chain was stretched across the Hudson River using the island as one of its anchor points, with the goal of stopping British warships from passing. The chain weighed several tons and is considered one of the largest engineering efforts of the war.
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