Constitution Island celebrates its pivotal role in the Revolutionary War and its enduring connection to the U.S. Military Academy at West Point.
Constitution Island, a 280-acre isle located south of Cold Spring, the only part of the U.S. Military Academy Reservation on the east side of the Hudson River, has reopened for tours.
Formerly known as “Martelaer’s Rock,” Constitution Island is the site of the earliest Revolutionary War fortifications in the Hudson Valley. Taken briefly by the British in 1777, the island was reoccupied by American forces in 1778 and made an integral part of Fortress West Point. The island was bequeathed to the military academy in 1909 and has been administered by the Army ever since.
The tours will be under the direction of the Constitution Island Association, a non-profit that is responsible for the upkeep and maintenance of the island’s historic Warner house and its grounds.
On June 28, more than 125 people gathered on the island for a celebratory event marking the historic milestone, as America honors the island’s legacy and its vital connection to West Point and the birth of our nation.
Former Putnam Legislator and retired Putnam Transportation Director Vincent Tamagna, who chaired the Constitution Island Association for years prior to relocating to Florida, returned for the event.
Tamagna traced the island’s history. “110 years ago, Anna Warner entrusted the Martaleers Rock Association, Constitution Island Association’s predecessor, with the contents of their home, and the island itself was left to the United States and the United States Military Academy through the generosity of Margaret Olivia Slocum Sage. They forged our partnership with West Point. We are deeply grateful for the academy’s support.”
He acknowledged the 59th Superintendent of West Point, LTG Robert Caslen, Jr. ’75, who served from 2013 to 2018. “This was when I began my leadership role with this organization, encouraged by Governor and Mrs. George Pataki. The Pataki’s envisioned an education center at a time when the Warner House desperately needed saving and investment. Then-Governor Pataki secured the initial $750,000.
Tamagna credited Superintendent Caslen’s “vision for saving the Warner House and constructing the Education Center. Today, the Warner House is in better shape than ever, fully restored to its glorious state.”
The weekend celebration officially launched Putnam County’s commemoration of the 250th anniversary of the United States of America.
“General Washington called Fortress West Point, including Constitution Island, the ‘Key to America,’ recognizing its strategic importance in defending the Hudson River during the Revolutionary War. It was crucial for protecting the surrounding areas and securing our fledgling nation. The story of the great chain and the redoubts and fortresses all displayed ingenuity and might,” he said.
Learn more about summer tours at Constitution Island.
The excerpt and image were taken from https://midhudsonnews.com.
