Mount Loretto Unique Area, Nature preserve in Staten Island, United States
Mount Loretto is a nature preserve covering 241 acres of different habitats, including forests, grasslands, wetlands, and about one mile of shoreline along Prince's Bay and Raritan Bay. The land is defined by notably high coastal bluffs formed from glacial moraine deposits.
The land was shaped by a Catholic orphanage founded in the 1880s by Father John Christopher Drumgoole. This children's home became one of New York's largest institutions before eventually giving way to the present-day preserve.
The name comes from a former Catholic orphanage founded in the 1880s by Father John Christopher Drumgoole, which once served as one of New York's largest children's homes. Today, visitors can see remnants of those buildings scattered throughout the property, connecting the land to its social history.
Three marked trails guide visitors through different habitats with interpretive signs at observation points. Wear sturdy shoes and expect changing conditions, as the land includes marsh areas and erosion-prone coastal sections.
The preserve contains some of New York State's highest ocean-facing coastal bluffs, reaching about 75 feet tall. These cliffs formed from glacial deposits left behind during the ice age and offer a rare geological sight for the eastern seaboard.
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