Staten Island, “the forgotten borough,” is often overlooked by the rest of New York City. Nevertheless, it holds some of the richest history in the Tri-State area. Of course there are the famous landmarks that everybody knows: Historic Richmond Town, Snug Harbor, and the Empire Outlets. These places are frequented often by tourists visiting the island. However, Staten Island’s past is laced with several other, more obscure, secret spots, just waiting to be explored! 

To start off, located across the street from the Church of St. Joachim and St. Anne stands the Mount Loretto Unique Area—famously one of the locations where the movie, The Godfather, was filmed. Mount Loretto was previously owned by the Butler family for many years, where they resided inside the Lighthouse Keepers Cottage. Prior to that, the Archdiocese of New York had used the property to provide for the hungry, homeless, and disabled. The park is now open for anyone to visit. Inside, there are many winding trails that will lead you through an alluring landscape that is home to a variety of animal species, including bald eagles, purple martens, and deer! This area ranges from hilly to flat, and provides the perfect setting for sledding in the winter and biking in the summer. 

Next up, often referred to as “one of the most tranquil places in New York City” for its “quiet ponds and deep woods” is High Rock Park! Its serene and relaxing environment supplies an exceptional place to study, or go for a run. If you’re feeling adventurous, you can climb Mount Moses for a 360° view of the park. And guess what! It’s only a ten minute walk from Tech!

Additionally, there is Blue Heron Park, named after the colorful heron bird, which is filled with sturdy wooden pathways and charming ponds. It is the perfect space for casual walks with friends, family, or pets. Events such as nature walks, arts and crafts, and trivia are held monthly for both kids and adults inside the Blue Heron Nature Center.

Last but not least is the Heyerdahl Ruins. Here, you can find the remains of Thorwald Heyerdahl’s stone house from 1861. Heyerdahl had dreams of creating a vineyard atop the hill—little did he know that the magnesium concentration in the soil was too high for plants to grow. Due to years of neglect, the establishment withered down to just the stone steps, foundations, and a well. These ruins have left many to speculate what the structure looked like before its demise. Now it is one of the many sights you can visit when inside the Greenbelt Nature Center. Inside this enormous park, there are marked trails that can lead you from Richmond Town all the way to Todt Hill. 

So pack your boots, your winter jacket, and prepare your favorite fall playlist. Bring your friends and enjoy the beauty this extraordinary island has to offer!

Works Cited:

Mount Loretto Unique Area https://dec.ny.gov/places/mount-loretto-unique-area

High Rock Park https://www.nycgovparks.org/parks/R088

Hello, Mr. Heyerdahl, Kevin Walsh, 12 May. 2022 https://www.splicetoday.com/writing/hello-mr-heyerdahl 

All photos were taken by Daniela Diaz