Lying at the entrance to one of the world's greatest natural harbors, Staten Island has been a most alluring destination ever since Giovanni da Verrazano set eyes upon it in 1524. Even before Colonial times the borough played a significant role in our nation's development economically, culturally, and historically. From Revolutionary battles to Civil War draft riots, while hosting iconic businesses or creating inspiration for the likes of Olmsted and Thoreau, the island has cultivated a prolific and distinguished past that reflects the passion of the American spirit.

Staten Island, one of the five boroughs of New York City, is still remembered fondly for the 5cents Staten Island Ferry ride to Manhattan. The rolling hills of Staten Island greet ships as they enter the Narrows of New York Harbor and sail beneath the Verrazano Narrows Bridge. The island's ever-evolving history dates back to days as a hunting ground of the Lenape Indian tribe. Today, it is a thriving suburban community. In this volume, the reader will explore the roots of this historic island, tour its streets, and meet some memorable Staten Islanders--Commodore Cornelius Vanderbilt, founder...

Here is Staten Island at its liveliest. Through an
outstanding selection of images coupled with an insightful narrative, this New York City borough
emerges, with friends and families at play, at work, and in between. Staten Island once hosted noteworthy visitors from the Wild West, such as Buffalo Bill and Annie Oakley. It served as an arena for politics and prominent political figures, including Kennedy, Rockefeller, Nixon, and Eisenhower. It was also an arena for sports of many sorts--baseball, football, tennis, bowling, racing, and hunting. Within this remarkable collection, these...