In a city where space is at a premium, it’s not often you see abandoned buildings that aren’t about to be torn down to build new ones. Most of the ones you can see lie on the outer reaches of the boroughs. The abandoned smallpox clinic, otherwise known as the Renwick Ruin, however, can be found on Roosevelt Island, easily accessible by car, foot, rail, bus, ferry, and air tram. The narrow island itself is beautiful to roam around, but the smallpox clinic at the bottom of the island is my favorite spot.
The clinic is built to look like a castle, though it’s smaller than you would expect for a clinic. Most of the structure remains standing, though it lacks windows, doors, stairs, and a roof. There’s a fence put up around the building because the structure is unstable, but it’s still interesting to walk around the outside and wonder what went on when people still inhabited it.
Find your way with 308 Insider Tips from our Local Spotters
Loved this Spot?Join your international community. Share your favs and become part of our international community!
"The Old Print Shop" in New York is my hands-down, hands-on museum/gallery of choice. I love mid-twentieth century 'industrial' or 'city' art...
by
"Sea & Sea " in NYC is a traditional-looking fish shop with wet, tiled floors, cool air, grated ice on every hand, busy with customers from near and far...
by
"Modern Bread and Bagel" in NYC has surfaced as exemplary, using criteria such as size and texture, seed and salt density. Here are some more top picks...
by
"Pain d' Epices" is a French bakery in NYC that makes croissants so flaky & buttery, the only way to avoid the crumbs is to 'put your back to the wind...'
by
"Django" in NYC is proof that the city's jazz club world is recovering. I celler/cavern is intimate enough that after performances I walk over to engage...
by
"The Dublin House" in NYC has been around since Prohibition and it still is neighborhood-sized. By the end of the night, everyone speaks Irish here...
by
"Pastrami Queen" in NYC has if not the best, among the very best pastrami sandwiches in the city. It's the kind of American excess you just can't miss...
by
"Sisters Uptown Bookstore" in NYC is a hidden shop/cultural center w/ an eye-opening trove of books by African diaspora authors. A true neighborhood spot!
by
I stumbled across a store about which I had read but never visited—the very inviting and colourful playground of Dawn Harris-Martine), retired teacher, now famous—named Grandma’s Place.
by
Color World sets up on the corner of 116th and 2nd Avenue, rain or shine. There they serve beef, pork, goat, oxtail, and chicken for $10 a plate.
by
Their prices are in keeping with the neighborhood: a plate of two eggs, two pancakes, 'home' fried potatoes and your choice of sausages or bacon, is $12.
by
There are three houses not far from each other in NYC of three icons: James Dean, James Baldwin, and Dorothy Parker...
by
308 Insider Tips from our local Spotters
Authentic Stories by Real People
Escape the Crowd & Travel Slow 🐌
✓ 0 Insider Tips from our local Spotters
✓ 308 Insider Tips