Constitution Island

Constitution Island is an island in the Hudson River, at West Point, New York. It is part of the grounds of the United States Army Garrison, West Point. United States Military Academy. Known as Martelaer's rock in colonial times, it was renamed Constitution Island in 1775.

The island is best known for the Great Chain, a heavy chain that was placed by the Continental Army across the river from the island to the mainland of West Point, then a fort of the Continental Army. This chain, intended to prevent British naval vessels from navigating the river during the American Revolutionary War was in place from 1778 to 1782.

The island also had fortifications and an artillery battery to defend the Continental positions. The island was the home of the Warner family from 1836 to 1915, including sisters Susan Warner and Anna Bartlett Warner. The Warner sisters were noted religious writers and also led Bible studies for the West Point cadets.

The Warner House is a National Historic Landmark, owned and operated by the United States Army Garrison, West Point. Recent improvements to the Island and its historic sites are administered by the Resident manager, K. Roddy MacLeod and the West Point Museum Director, David Reel. The Island is open seasonally and tours are open to the public on a limited basis. For more West Point History visit: http://www.usma.edu/museum

• Sign near caretaker's cottage

• Viewed from Trophy Point during Winter

• Cannon on site of original Ft. Constitution

• Ft. Constitution information plaque

• Panoramic view of the island looking east

• Gravel Hill Battery plaque

• Map of West Point fortifications from 1775-1783 showing the island and vicinity

• Information plaque at boat dock

• Fortress West Point info plaque at boat dock

• Great Chain historical marker at the boat dock

• The Warner house c1908

• Warner House, July 2010

• Redoubt 7 on western edge of island, as seen from Trophy Point

• Constitution Island seen from US Route 9W

• Ruins of Redoubt #7 on the western bluff of the island

• View from Sherburne Battery at West Point