History
The states of New York and Connecticut both claimed the island in the 19th century but, after 50 years, a commission resolved the dispute in favor of the Constitution State. In 1829, the federal government authorized money for a lighthouse on the island and bought 3.5 acres (14,000 m2) on Great Captain for the purpose.
In 1966, the town government bought all the land on the island except for the lighthouse grounds for $90,000 and, in 1973, the federal government turned over that tract as well.
Read more about this topic: Great Captain Island
Famous quotes containing the word history:
“We aspire to be something more than stupid and timid chattels, pretending to read history and our Bibles, but desecrating every house and every day we breathe in.”
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)
“In history as in human life, regret does not bring back a lost moment and a thousand years will not recover something lost in a single hour.”
—Stefan Zweig (18811942)
“The principal office of history I take to be this: to prevent virtuous actions from being forgotten, and that evil words and deeds should fear an infamous reputation with posterity.”
—Tacitus (c. 55–c. 120)