There’s a new blog started by the Architectural League of New York. It’s called “Urban Omnibus.” This week I published a short piece there about tidal energy being developed in the East River off the east side of Manhattan.
The East River isn’t just called the East River because it’s on the East Side. It was called the East River way back when the Hudson was known as the “North” River, and what we now know as the Delaware was called the “South” River. The East River is actually a tidal strait connecting the New York Harbor with Long Island Sound. It was and still is the fastest route to the east, along the coast of New England and for sailing to and from New Haven, Providence, and Boston. Historically, vessels have taken the risk of navigating through through Hell Gate – a stretch of the East River between Wards Island, Randalls Island, and northwest Queens – because this route could save time sailing anywhere between New York and New London. From New London to points east, the ocean route along the south shore of Long Island is faster. Back in the day, the East River route would also save up to a day in transit time to Europe.
Beginning in the 1850s, what we now call the US Army Corps of Engineers took on a project to clear out the rocks and reefs in Hell Gate. At that time, this was the largest public works project to improve navigation that had ever been taken on in the US. The Army Corps is still at it, not at Hell Gate, but many, many, many other places!
A few weeks ago a friend published a piece on Gotham Gazette suggesting that the East River be renamed the “Gotham Strait.”
Posted by cartercraft 
