North and South Brother Islands

North and South Brother Islands form an archipelago of roughly 26 acres (11 hectares) in the East River between the Bronx and Rikers Island. The northern island is the larger of the two and covered with trees and ruins, while the southern island is smaller and mostly covered in low vegetation.

A hospital for isolating people with contagious diseases opened on the northern island in the 1880s and remained in operation until 1963. The southern island stayed undeveloped and served mainly as a navigation marker for ships on the river.

The names refer to two neighboring landmasses in the river, described as siblings. Both serve today as an undisturbed refuge for herons and other waterbirds during their migration along the Atlantic coast.

The reserve remains closed to visitors, and permission is granted only for scientific research or documentation. The islands are accessible only by boat, and landing is not allowed without authorization.

The crumbling buildings on the northern island have been overtaken by trees and vines for decades, creating an unusual mosaic of architecture and wilderness. The southern island remains free of any structures, showing how the shoreline might have looked before human intervention.

GPS coordinates: 40.79827,-73.89842

Latest update: December 4, 2025 19:05