10. Bodies Were Moved to Wards Island From Manhattan

Bryant Park used to be a potter’s field (a cemetery for the city’s poor) in 1823, one year after the land became part of New York City’s jurisdiction. It remained a burial ground until 1840 when the space was transformed into the Croton Distributing Reservoir. Because of this, the hundreds of bodies underneath were moved to Wards Island in the East River. Bodies from Madison Square Park, which was also a potter’s field, were also moved to Wards Island.

Next, check out other Lesser-Known Islands in New York City, The Top 10 Secrets of NYC’s Ellis Island and The Top 10 Secrets of Hart Island, NYC’s Mass Cemetery.