Tuesday, July 28, 2026 – Uncover the Wonders of a Historic Estat

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R.I.H.S. VISITOR CENTER KIOSK


CELEBRATING 19 YEARS


THIS WEEK

Tuesday,  July 28, 2026



Issue # 1721

In late July of 2007, the RIHS Visitor Center finally opened to visitors and islanders. After a 4 year period of starts and stop the kiosk was finally ready to open.

The long story was over as the original trams passed over with our future visitors.

On opening day Jessica Lappin, our City Council member cut the ribbon.

Four remnants of the many structures that once made up the Billings estate can still be seen in Fort Tryon Park today. The largest and most notable remnant is the driveway Billings had constructed at an estimated cost of $250,000. This private road would allow BIllings to have an easy and direct route to Riverside Drive, now the Henry Hudson Parkway. Billings hired architects Buchman and Fox to figure out a way to build a gently sloping road that would allow horses and carriages to easily traverse the 200-foot drop from the estate to Riverside Drive. The solution was to build a sort of bridge that extended over the edge of the hill, creating a wide curve “S” curve supported by “a high, graceful arch” at each end, with five smaller arches in between. It took 100 laborers more than a year to build the roadway out of stone quarried from the site.

The team from NYC Department of Cultural Affrairs and Department of Design and Construction were there to admire the project.

We were ready with books, mugs, tee shirts and totes for our customers.

My mom Ruth Berdy was one of our first guests.

RIOC CEO Steve Shane was a great supporter of the project.

Two of our first staff were Deborah Dorff and Zakia Wazani

IN 2010 the kiosk was restored to it’s original colors and authentic historic look.

At the same time the tram cabins were being replaced so the Tram Plaza had two new additions in the winter of 2010.

PHOTO OF THE DAY

Dance performance by Chris Bisram
Celebrating City of Water Day at the FDR Park

CREDITS

Untapped Cities

All image are copyrighted (c) Roosevelt Island Historical Society unless otherwise indicated
THIS PUBLICATION FUNDED BY DISCRETIONARY FUNDS FROM CITY COUNCIL MEMBER JULIE MENIN & ROOSEVELT ISLAND OPERATING CORPORATION PUBLIC PURPOSE FUNDS.

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