Ellis Island Seawall - Historic structure report

Kroll, Naomi

This report contains the developmental history and a comprehensive description of the concrete seawall which is the perimeter of Ellis Island. The perimeter of Ellis Island is defined by a granite-faced concrete seawall that rises from New York Harbor’s water, forming a protective wall for the fill and cribwork that compromise the bulk of the island’s acreage. The history of the seawall’s evolution is tied closely to the evolution of the island itself. Sections of seawall were often constructed or replaced in conjunction with the expansion of the island’s boundaries to accommodate its changing function, architecture, and spatial use. This historic structure report is intended to serve a planning document for the Ellis Island Historic Seawall Rehabilitation, and as a resource for the long-term maintenance of the structure. The seawall rehabilitation is a collaborative effort between the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New York District; the Denver Service Center of the National Park Service; and the Statue of Liberty National Monument/Ellis Island National Historic Site. This report will provide the Corps of Engineers and the park with a developmental history and comprehensive description of the structure. Its objective is to aid in design, rehabilitation, and maintenance decisions, so that the seawall’s unique structural problems can be addressed while minimizing loss of historic material and alteration of the historic structure.

Ellis Island Seawall - Historic structure report

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