Rat Island, New York, Private island in City Island Harbor, New York.
Rat Island is a small landmass in City Island Harbor with two distinct humped shapes. Its surface consists of Manhattan schist bedrock, and a distinctive purple beach covers much of its shoreline, made entirely from crushed mussel shells.
During the 1800s, the island served as a quarantine facility called Pelham Pesthouse when typhoid fever spread through the region. Remnants of cobblestone walls from that period remain visible on the island today.
The island transformed into an artists and writers settlement in the early twentieth century before Dr. H.A. Parmentier purchased it in 1908.
The island is privately owned and can only be accessed by water, requiring a kayak to reach it from City Island Harbor. Visitors should check tide and weather conditions before attempting the crossing, as water conditions vary significantly by season.
A polyester replica of the William Tell statue from Altdorf has stood on the island since 2016 as a commemoration of Swiss National Day. This unexpected monument gives the remote islet an unusual cultural link to Switzerland.
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