Aerial View of the SUNY Maritime College Campus, which is home to the Pentagon shaped Fort Schuyler and The Maritime Industry Museum (credit:kermit project)
One of my favorite things to do is taking half-day local excursions! Getting out and on the road early, hitting a new sight and point of interest and always, always, enjoying a 'local' food experience.
My latest jaunt included both a historic destination and a tasty treat! As a history buff, and a lover of the borough of the Bronx, I decided to visit Fort Schuyler in the Bronx. I cannot tell you how many times throughout my life, I have gone over the Throgs Neck Bridge, and yet, I had yet to visit this 19th century fortification and Maritime Industry Museum housed within.
My latest jaunt included both a historic destination and a tasty treat! As a history buff, and a lover of the borough of the Bronx, I decided to visit Fort Schuyler in the Bronx. I cannot tell you how many times throughout my life, I have gone over the Throgs Neck Bridge, and yet, I had yet to visit this 19th century fortification and Maritime Industry Museum housed within.
SUNY Maritime College is a maritime college located in the Bronx, New York, United States in historic Fort Schuyler on the Throggs Neck peninsula where the East River meets Long Island Sound (c) travelincousins.com
View from the Entrance of the Maritime College (c) travelincousins.com
Housed within the grounds of SUNY Maritime College in the Bronx, Fort Schuyler and The Maritime Industry Museum are located on the Throgs Neck peninsula where the East River meets Long Island Sound.
The area is designated an Historic District, with The Fort having been a New York City Landmark since 1966 and subsequently added to the National Register of Historic Places, ten years later.
The weather was absolutely glorious during my visit, perfect for enjoying the scenic views of the Long Island Sound and Throgs Neck Bridge. Engulfed in my surroundings of the natural waterway and the imposing man-made steel structure of the bridge, captivated by the sea air smell and delicate breeze, I snapped away, oblivious to the nearly 100-year old ominous stone structure that comprised the former military fort on the grounds.
The area is designated an Historic District, with The Fort having been a New York City Landmark since 1966 and subsequently added to the National Register of Historic Places, ten years later.
The weather was absolutely glorious during my visit, perfect for enjoying the scenic views of the Long Island Sound and Throgs Neck Bridge. Engulfed in my surroundings of the natural waterway and the imposing man-made steel structure of the bridge, captivated by the sea air smell and delicate breeze, I snapped away, oblivious to the nearly 100-year old ominous stone structure that comprised the former military fort on the grounds.
Throgs Neck Bridge view from grounds of Maritime College (c) travelincousins.com
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It's important to note, that when visiting any sight or destination, I always do some homework, so that i have am fortified (no pun intended) with basic knowledge and history. So, of course, I was aware of a few facts going in...
Walking towards entrance (c) travelincousins.com
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View of the Throgs Neck Bridge from inside the Fort, on our way to the Museum (c) travelincousins.com
* The location of the Fort Schuyler was strategically selected and positioned to protect New York City from naval attack through Long Island Sound.
* The purpose of the fort was to guard the eastern entrance to New York Harbor.
* Situated on Throgs Neck, it lies on the southeastern tip of the Bronx, where the East River meets Long Island Sound.
* In combination with Fort Totten, which faces it on the opposite side of the river, their interlocking batteries created a bottle-neck of defenses against ships attempting to approach New York City.
Headed to the Museum (c) travelincousins.com
Fortification tunnel leading to the Bastion of the pentagon-shaped fort (c) travelincousins.com
The facts are pretty straight forward, but, what a difference the descriptive facts take on with an in-person visit. Accompanied by my fourteen year old daughter, we approached the fort's entrance and took it all in - the thick stone fortification walls, the cannons on the grounds, and of course, the areas that once housed the artillery battery. The fort is a pentagon-shaped edifice, with four of the five sides facing the Long Island Sound.
The Maritime Industry Museum is within what is called St. Mary's Pentagon, and was established in 1986 and is filled with a plethora of unique artifacts ranging from the Clipper Ship era to the present. The exhibitions are well-designed with a historical layout chock full of details and facts about the maritime industry, displayed chronologically, filled with paintings, early sailing vessels, turn of the 19th and 20th Century vessels up to present day.
The Maritime Industry Museum is within what is called St. Mary's Pentagon, and was established in 1986 and is filled with a plethora of unique artifacts ranging from the Clipper Ship era to the present. The exhibitions are well-designed with a historical layout chock full of details and facts about the maritime industry, displayed chronologically, filled with paintings, early sailing vessels, turn of the 19th and 20th Century vessels up to present day.
Me and Gianna inside the Bastion of the Fort (c) travelincousins.com
Center Bastion of the fort (c) travelincousins.com
View upon entering the Maritime Industry Museum (c) travelincousins.com
View of museum entrance from above (c) travelincousins.com
With an extensive ship model collection it also serves as a significant depository of maritime industry books, periodicals, documents, papers, prints, photographs, and old steamship company records, as well as some interactive items including ship steering wheels, for those who want to feel like they are at the helm of a sea vessel, and navigational instruments of bygone days through the modern era.
I found myself staring and studying every detail of the impeccably crafted ship model reproductions meticulously scattered throughout the display halls. So much care and attention to detail! Most intriguingly to me was the circular staircase leading to the "lighthouse". I attempted to climb to the very top (alone, as my daughter opted to stay below), but alas, I was disappointed (but not surprised) that the door was locked. The walk up and down the spiral steps was, in any case, worth it!
I found myself staring and studying every detail of the impeccably crafted ship model reproductions meticulously scattered throughout the display halls. So much care and attention to detail! Most intriguingly to me was the circular staircase leading to the "lighthouse". I attempted to climb to the very top (alone, as my daughter opted to stay below), but alas, I was disappointed (but not surprised) that the door was locked. The walk up and down the spiral steps was, in any case, worth it!
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Since the Maritime Industry Museum's inception, it has received donations from steamship lines, related companies in the maritime industry, and private collectors, with hundreds of artifacts to add to the museum's collection.
Boasting one of the largest collections of maritime industry materials in the nation, the Museum's website states, "Today, the Maritime Industry Museum has over 2,000 items on display, and thousands of other items in its archives, which will be preserved for future generations."
Boasting one of the largest collections of maritime industry materials in the nation, the Museum's website states, "Today, the Maritime Industry Museum has over 2,000 items on display, and thousands of other items in its archives, which will be preserved for future generations."
What a great way to start the day!
Of course, no day outing would be complete without a foodie pitstop and some yummy goodness! So, after stimulating our intellectual curiosities, we headed north to Little Italy in the Belmont section of the Bronx (about a 10 minute ride), where we tantalized our tastebuds with a visit to DeLillo's Pastry Shop on 187th Street.
Seated in the cozy interior, we enjoyed a delightful cappuccino each, sharing a chocolate cannoli and tiramisu. Perfect for a weekend morning trip, leaving us with plenty of time for an afternoon adventure!
-Elisa
Of course, no day outing would be complete without a foodie pitstop and some yummy goodness! So, after stimulating our intellectual curiosities, we headed north to Little Italy in the Belmont section of the Bronx (about a 10 minute ride), where we tantalized our tastebuds with a visit to DeLillo's Pastry Shop on 187th Street.
Seated in the cozy interior, we enjoyed a delightful cappuccino each, sharing a chocolate cannoli and tiramisu. Perfect for a weekend morning trip, leaving us with plenty of time for an afternoon adventure!
-Elisa
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Yummy pastries and frothy cappuccinos (c) travelincousins.com
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Topped with a dash of cinnamon (c) travelincousins.com
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Savoring our warm beverages (c) travelincousins.com
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For Your Reference
Fort Schuyler
SUNY Maritime College
6 Pennyfield Ave, Bronx, NY
Phone: (718) 409-7200
www.sunymaritime.edu
DeLillo Pastry Shop
610 E 187th St, Bronx, NY
Phone: (718) 367-8198
www.delillopastryshop.com
Fort Schuyler
SUNY Maritime College
6 Pennyfield Ave, Bronx, NY
Phone: (718) 409-7200
www.sunymaritime.edu
DeLillo Pastry Shop
610 E 187th St, Bronx, NY
Phone: (718) 367-8198
www.delillopastryshop.com
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