New York Members. About Bannerman's Island & The Hudson River

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Wyatt Burp

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I'm in California but I think it would be a blast to take a boat ride up the Hudson to West Point or farther up. I am really interested in Bannerman's Island and was wondering if any N.Y. members or anyone else has seen this place or have any experience about it, before and after it was an armory. I would love to see it. Is the old castle still there? I looked up some images and saw what looked like modern ariel views but I think I saw another pic where just the facade of the castle was standing. Thanks for any help.
Matt, the Left Coast Kid
 
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Wyatt, I've never been there, though only live about 15 miles away. From what I understand, parts of the castle remain. There are tours available, but don't know if you can do a self-guided tour. I'm sure someone else will chime in.
Whatever you do, don't forget to visit West Point. There's much rich history to see. If you're around on Sunday morning stop at the Thayer Hotel, they serve a great brunch.
 
You can still see the castle from the train that runs from Albany to NYC. I think New York State Parks , Recreation & Historic Preservation manages the site. Check out their web site.
 
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Can't tell you a thing about the castle, years ago a buddy bought a 40' powerboat and wanted a hand. She was docked by the Tapanzee Bridge, we went up beyond West Point on her shakedown cruise. Scenery was incredible, it was Autumn and foliage was changing.
Hope to get on the Hudson again some day.
Kevin
 
I'd like to resurface this thread, simply b/c it's an important part of U.S. history.

I've mentioned the TV show "Off Limits" in this thread, http://smith-wessonforum.com/lounge/400042-off-limits-tv-series-very-good-stuff.html (it runs on Netflix) and yesterday I saw that there are new episodes. One episode is about Bannerman's Castle ("Secrets of New York Islands") on Pollepel Island.

It's just stunning what his family pulled off. More (young) people should watch stuff like that to learn about our actual history!

Here's a guns dot com article: Bannermans Legacy: The ultimate Army-Navy store - Guns.com

In the TV show it was mentioned that people work on preserving the castle and it seems like they have accomplished that b/c according to Bannerman Castle Trust, Inc. you can book guided tours.

6509613.png

View of the castle at sunset, taken before the partial collapse of December 2009. Photo by Neil Caplan.
http://www.bannermancastle.org/island-history.html

God I love stuff like that...
 
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I've sailed on the Hudson in that area and have seen the castle from the water, but never been there proper. West Point and Bear Mountain State Park area are worth the time. The Catskills and Hudson Valley are among the prettiest landscapes in the US.
 
I have a reproduction of an old Bannerman's catalog. You think you get the shakes when you see various sales slips with older model guns, you should see the prices from Bannerman's. You could outfit and entire army from that catalog including field artillery.

I have a Trapdoor Springfield my Great Grand Dad obtained from there for $7.50.
 
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This is a great thread and great history. I have no connection to the area except from the summer of 1971 when we took my brother to report to West Point. I was 14 and the main memory I have of the place is that everything was grey, even the grass and trees.
 
Weren't surplus munitions being stored there by Bannerman at one time? I seem to have read an article in the past, that experts had to be called in to deactivate them.

I have a copy of the catalogue, and it's a fascinating reproduction.
 
This is a bit off subject, but if you have interest in the Hudson, Robert Pirsig (Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance) bought a sailboat with some of the proceeds from his book and took it down the Hudson. The book that came out of that trip, Lila, was, in my opinion, a better book than his first, better philosophy at least.

Back to the subject at hand.
 
Marsh: I too like the writings of Robert Pirsig, but have to disagree in that I think "Zen" was his best. He seemed to me to have become more of a self centered older man writing what was expected of him when he produced "Lila". Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed "Lila", just not to the degree I was taken by "Zen". But then, like you, I am a motorcyclist to the core. .................. But, come to think of it, I also was a sailor of just about the same sailboat that Pirsig had coming down the Hudson River.
 
I think is said so.. It is a copy of the old 1927 version. My mom got it for me as a Christmas present.. I think she was trying to torture me.
 
Iggy said:
I think is said so.. It is a copy of the old 1927 version. My mom got it for me as a Christmas present.. I think she was trying to torture me.
Click to expand...

I think mine's from the teens. I liked the cannons and the fair prices on them. Where you live, you could probably get away with shoot'n them.
 
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