New York car rental - City Island and New York Car Rental

Travel to City Island, a small community at the edge of New York City located just beyond Pelham Bay Park in the Bronx. City Island is surrounded by the waters of the Long Island Sound and Eastchester Bay. With Execution Light to the northeast and Stepping Stones Lighthouse to the south, City Island has a rich nautical history that you can explore with your New York car rental. A lot of this history is preserved by the Historical Society and Museum.

A little history

City Island was originally inhabited by the Siwanoy band of Lenape Indians but was later settled by Europeans as part of property and estate bought by English nobleman, Thomas Pell, in 1654. After changing hands several times, in 1761 the Island (at that time known as Minefer's Island), was bought by Benjamin Palmer of New York. Up to this point the island had been inhabited by only a few homes and farms. It had a population of about 1000 people, who tended farms and livestock. Palmer had the vision of developing the island into a port, which could rival that of New York. He knew that ships heading north and south passed City Island using Long Island Sound as a safe inshore waterway. He envisioned shipyards, and stores that could cater to the ships. He went as far as to have the island mapped out in different plots designated as shipyards, docks, business, farms, homes, schools, and houses of worship, along with streets, paths, and access routes. Benjamin Palmer appealed to the British Crown and received a patent that covered the ownership of waterfront properties 400 out from the high tide mark under water, around the perimeter of the Island.

Setting sail

The shipbuilding industry on City Island prospered into the 20th century. During the First and Second World Wars, City Island produced minesweepers and tugboats, as well as many of the landing craft used in beach invasions. In the post-war period, yacht production continued to prosper. City Island has produced seven Americas Cup winning yachts. You and your New York car rental can get a glimpse of City Island’s past by visiting one of the many historical venues the city has to offer. For New York car rental travelers interested in City Island’s nautical history you can check out the Nautical Room. Filled with memorabilia and photographs carefully arranged to demonstrate City Island's shipbuilding community heritage. Each of the shipyards is honored with historical pictures of the yachts and the men and women who dedicated their lives to building them.

Major attractions

There are a lot of things to see at City Island when you travel with your New York car rental. One place you definitely need to check out with your New York car rental is the Walsh room, dedicated originally in 1976, displays more than 60 paintings of City Island and nearby areas made during the 1930s by professor Harold Vendervoort Walsh. The historical library contains books, magazines, newspapers, and scrapbooks collected by individuals, organizations, and churches. Another place you should check out is the School Room. This special room shows what life was like for the school children in the 1830's, as they struggled to preserve their own cultural and religious heritage and to acquire knowledge and skill. The Community Room contains treasures donated by Island residents whose precious heirlooms help bring the early 19th century alive for visitors curios about the Island's past

Before you goˇ
For more information on City Island when you travel with your New York Car Rental check out this website at http://www.cityisland.com

Check out the Brooklyn car rental All Car Rent a Car location at 1941 Utica Ave Brooklyn, NY 11234