Join us at noon for the official opening ceremony, followed by guided tours of the historic Warner House and Revolutionary War redoubts.  Shuttle service from the Cold Spring train station begins at 11am.  Online reservations are required for this event.  Visit constitutionisland.org for details. https://www.constitutionisland.org/

Constitution Island, located across the Hudson River from West Point, has played a significant role in American history, especially during the Revolutionary War. Recognizing its strategic importance, the Continental Congress authorized fortifications there in 1775, and the island became the site of several redoubts under the supervision of Bernard Romans. One of the most iconic wartime measures occurred in 1778, when a massive iron chain, later known as the Great Chain, was stretched across the Hudson River from West Point to Constitution Island. This chain was designed to block British ships from moving northward and played a key role in protecting the Hudson Highlands and preserving American control of the river.

In 1836, Henry Warner purchased the island, and after facing financial hardship, moved there permanently with his daughters, Susan and Anna. The Warner sisters became well-known authors; Susan wrote the best-selling novel The Wide, Wide World, and Anna wrote the beloved hymn “Jesus Loves Me,” first published in 1860. For over forty years, the sisters held Bible classes for West Point cadets, forging a lasting connection between Constitution Island and the U.S. Military Academy. In 1908, Anna Warner and philanthropist Olivia Sage donated the island to the federal government for the use of West Point, ensuring the island’s continued legacy as both a historical landmark and a place of education.

Since 1916, the Constitution Island Association has worked with the United States Military Academy and the United States Army Garrison at West Point to provide the public and the West Point community with a rewarding educational and recreational experience while preserving and commemorating the historic, literary, legendary, and artistic traditions of Constitution Island and the Hudson River Valley.