Photos: The Strange History of NYC's Swinburne and Hoffman Islands

Hoffman Island, 1956. (Photo courtesy of the New York City Municipal Archives)

Hoffman Island, 1956. (Photo courtesy of the New York City Municipal Archives)

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Hoffman Island, 1956. (Photo courtesy of the New York City Municipal Archives)

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Swinburne Island, 1956. (Photo courtesy of the New York City Municipal Archives)

Swinburne Island, 1956. (Photo courtesy of the New York City Municipal Archives)

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Swinburne Island, 1956. (Photo courtesy of the New York City Municipal Archives)

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Hoffman Island, aerial view of buildings. (Photo courtesy of the New York City Municipal Archives)

Hoffman Island, aerial view of buildings. (Photo courtesy of the New York City Municipal Archives)

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Hoffman Island, aerial view of buildings. (Photo courtesy of the New York City Municipal Archives)

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Sectional Aerial Map of the City of New York. Staten Island, South Beach, Hoffman Island, Midland Beach. 1951. (Photo courtesy of the New York City Municipal Archives)

Sectional Aerial Map of the City of New York. Staten Island, South Beach, Hoffman Island, Midland Beach. 1951. (Photo courtesy of the New York City Municipal Archives)

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Sectional Aerial Map of the City of New York. Staten Island, South Beach, Hoffman Island, Midland Beach. 1951. (Photo courtesy of the New York City Municipal Archives)

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This photo is from a pamphlet called Quarantine Sketches produced by the Maltine Company. Note: They have mislabeled the islands, so Hoffman is Swinburne and vice versa. (Photo courtesy of the New York City Municipal Archives)

This photo is from a pamphlet called Quarantine Sketches produced by the Maltine Company. Note: They have mislabeled the islands, so Hoffman is Swinburne and vice versa. (Photo courtesy of the New York City Municipal Archives)

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This photo is from a pamphlet called Quarantine Sketches produced by the Maltine Company. Note: They have mislabeled the islands, so Hoffman is Swinburne and vice versa. (Photo courtesy of the New York City Municipal Archives)

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(Photo courtesy of the New York City Municipal Archives)

(Photo courtesy of the New York City Municipal Archives)

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(Photo courtesy of the New York City Municipal Archives)

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Oblique view looking south showing the South Beach project Fort Wadsworth to Great Kills Park, Hoffman Island at left. (Photo courtesy of the New York City Municipal Archives)

Oblique view looking south showing the South Beach project Fort Wadsworth to Great Kills Park, Hoffman Island at left. (Photo courtesy of the New York City Municipal Archives)

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Oblique view looking south showing the South Beach project Fort Wadsworth to Great Kills Park, Hoffman Island at left. (Photo courtesy of the New York City Municipal Archives)

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Photo by Bjoern Kils (New York Media Boat)

Photo by Bjoern Kils (New York Media Boat)

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Photo by Bjoern Kils (New York Media Boat)

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Photo by Bjoern Kils (New York Media Boat)

Photo by Bjoern Kils (New York Media Boat)

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Photo by Bjoern Kils (New York Media Boat)

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Photo by Bjoern Kils (New York Media Boat)

Photo by Bjoern Kils (New York Media Boat)

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Photo by Bjoern Kils (New York Media Boat)

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Swinburne Island. (Photo by Bjoern Kils / New York Media Boat)

Swinburne Island. (Photo by Bjoern Kils / New York Media Boat)

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Swinburne Island. (Photo by Bjoern Kils / New York Media Boat)

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Photo by Bjoern Kils (New York Media Boat)

Photo by Bjoern Kils (New York Media Boat)

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Photo by Bjoern Kils (New York Media Boat)

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Photo by Bjoern Kils (New York Media Boat)

Photo by Bjoern Kils (New York Media Boat)

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Photo by Bjoern Kils (New York Media Boat)

Gothamist

Photo by Bjoern Kils (New York Media Boat)

Photo by Bjoern Kils (New York Media Boat)

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Photo by Bjoern Kils (New York Media Boat)

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Photo by Bjoern Kils (New York Media Boat)

Photo by Bjoern Kils (New York Media Boat)

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Photo by Bjoern Kils (New York Media Boat)

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Photo by Bjoern Kils (New York Media Boat)

Photo by Bjoern Kils (New York Media Boat)

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Photo by Bjoern Kils (New York Media Boat)

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