Establishment of the Governors Island National Monument

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Establishment of the Governors Island National Monument

Presidential Documents

Proclamation 7647 of February 7, 2003

Establishment of the Governors Island National

Monument

By the President of the United States of America

A Proclamation

On the north tip of Governors Island, at the confluence

of the Hudson and East Rivers, stand two fortifications

that served as an outpost to protect New York City from

sea attack. These two important historic objects,

Castle Williams and Fort Jay, are part of a National

Historic Landmark District designated in 1985. Between

1806 and 1811, these fortifications were constructed as

part of the First and Second American Systems of

Coastal Fortification. Castle Williams and Fort Jay

represent two of the finest examples of defensive

structures in use from the Renaissance to the American

Civil War. They also played important roles in the War

of 1812, the American Civil War, and World Wars I and

II.

These fortifications were built on the most strategic

defensive positions on the island. Fort Jay,

constructed between 1806 and 1809, is on the highest

point of the island from which its glacis originally

sloped down to the waterfront on all sides. Castle

Williams, constructed between 1807 and 1811, occupies a

rocky promontory as close as possible to the harbor

channels and served as the most important strategic

defensive point in the entrance to the New York Harbor.

Governors Island was managed by the United States Army

and the United States Coast Guard for nearly 200 years,

but is no longer required for defense or Coast Guard

purposes. It provides an excellent opportunity for the

public to observe and understand the harbor history,

its defense, and its ecology. Its proximity to lower

Manhattan also makes it an appropriate location from

which to reflect upon the tragic events of September

11, 2001.

Section 2 of the Act of June 8, 1906 (34 Stat. 225, 16

U.S.C. 431) (the ``Antiquities Act''), authorizes the

President, in his discretion, to declare by public

proclamation historic landmarks, historic and

prehistoric structures, and other objects of historic

or scientific interest that are situated upon the lands

owned or controlled by the Government of the United

States to be national monuments, and to reserve as a

part thereof parcels of land, the limits of which in

all cases shall be confined to the smallest area

compatible with the proper care and management of the

objects to be protected.

A Governors Island National Monument was established by

Proclamation 7402 of January 19, 2001, in order to

protect the two fortifications. The monument, however,

remained subject to Public Law 105-33, section 9101,

111 Stat. 670 (August 5, 1997), which required the

entire island, including the monument lands, to be sold

with a right of first offer to the State and City of

New York.

WHEREAS the State and City of New York each executed a

consent and waiver of the right of first offer

regarding Governors Island; and

WHEREAS the portion of Governors Island described on

the accompanying land description was sold to the

National Trust for Historic Preservation (National

Trust), on January 31, 2003, and the remainder of

Governors Island was sold to the Governors Island

Preservation and Education Corporation (GIPEC) of the

State and City of New York, on January 31, 2003; and [[Page 7054]]

WHEREAS the National Trust, on January 31, 2003,

relinquished and conveyed to the United States of

America all lands owned by the National Trust on

Governors Island; and

WHEREAS such relinquishment and conveyance have been

accepted by the Secretary of the Interior (Secretary)

pursuant to the Antiquities Act; and

WHEREAS it appears that it would be in the public

interest to preserve Castle Williams, Fort Jay, and

certain lands and buildings necessary for the care and

management of the Castle and Fort as the Governors

Island National Monument;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE W. BUSH, President of the

United States of America, by the authority vested in me

by section 2 of the Act of June 8, 1906 (34 Stat. 225,

16 U.S.C. 431), do proclaim that there are hereby set

apart and reserved as the Governors Island National

Monument for the purpose of protecting the objects

identified above, all lands and interests in lands

owned or controlled by the United States within the

boundaries described on the accompanying land

description, which is attached to and forms a part of

this proclamation. The Federal land and interests in

land reserved consist of approximately 22 acres,

together with appurtenant easements for all necessary

purposes and any associated federally owned personal

property of historic interest, which is the smallest

area compatible with the property care and management

of the objects to be protected.

All Federal lands and interests in lands within the

boundaries of this monument are hereby appropriated and

withdrawn from all forms of entry, location, selection,

sale, or leasing or other disposition under the public

land laws, including but not limited to withdrawal from

location, entry, and patent under the mining laws, and

from disposition under all laws relating to mineral and

geothermal leasing.

The Secretary shall manage the monument consistent with

the purposes and provisions of this proclamation. For

the purpose of preserving, restoring, and enhancing the

public visitation and appreciation of the monument, the

Secretary shall prepare a management plan for the

monument within 3 years of the date of this

proclamation. Further, to the extent authorized by law,

the Secretary shall promulgate any additional

regulations needed for the proper care and management

of the objects identified above.

The establishment of this monument is subject to valid

existing rights, if any such rights are present.

Nothing in this proclamation shall be deemed to revoke

any existing withdrawal, reservation, or appropriation;

however, the national monument shall be the dominant

reservation.

Warning is hereby given to all unauthorized persons not

to appropriate, injure, destroy, or remove any feature

of this monument and not to locate or settle upon any

of the lands thereof. [[Page 7055]]

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this

seventh day of February, in the year of our Lord two

thousand three, and of the Independence of the United

States of America the two hundred and twenty-seventh.

(Presidential Sig.)B