Bannerman Castle
Join us for a guided tour of Bannerman Castle, the former arsenal built by eccentric entrepreneur Frank Bannerman VI.
***SOLD OUT***
Date: Sunday, July 22nd
Time: 1:30
Admission: $50
Presented by Atlas Obscura
Built between 1901 and 1918, the property was modeled after Scottish baronial castles and sits on a tiny, rugged island in Hudson Valley. Frank Bannerman became a surplus munitions dealer as a teenager and a few decades later his collection was so vast that he needed to buy the island for storage space. Some of his most notable purchases include 90% of the army surplus from the Spanish-American War, cannons from the Battle of Yorktown and equipment from Admiral Perry’s expedition to the Arctic Circle.
We will be meeting at the Beacon Ferry Dock in Beacon, New York. The tour will last approximately 2.5 hours: 1/2 hour each way on the shuttle boat and about 1.5 hours touring the island (rain or shine). Some of the paths and trails are steep and there is a lot of walking, including 72 stairs. There is no running water on the island, but there are porta potties. Bottled water will be available for purchase on the boat.
IMPORTANT NOTE: For those taking Metro-North, take the Hudson line from Grand Central Station to Beacon. You can board the 10:50am train or the 11:45am; get on any later trains and you will miss the boat. If you would like to ride up to Beacon with us, we will be in the first two cars of the 11:45. Meet us at the clock in the center of the Main Concourse of Grand Central by 11:20.
Details/special instructions.
- Wear comfortable shoes
- Neither the boat or the island is handicapped accessible
- Strollers are not permitted
- Due to safety issues we cannot go inside any of the buildings
- Tickets are non-refundable
Metro-North train directions:
- Take the Hudson line from Grand Central Station to Beacon
- Get on the 10:50am train or the 11:45am
- Metro-North tickets are NOT INCLUDED in the price of the tour
- Information about Metro-North tickets available here: http://www.mta.info/mnr/html/fares.htm
- The Beacon Ferry Dock is just down the hill from the Beacon Train Station
Driving directions to Beacon Ferry Dock:
- Take Rt 84 to Exit 11
- Take 9D South
- Make a right onto Beekman Street (approx .65 miles)
- Make a right onto bridge over train tracks (.4 miles)
- Dock is down hill on left
TICKETS AVAILABLE HERE: http://atlasobscura.com/blog/obscura-society-nyc-bannerman