Roosevelt Island: A Self-Guided Audio Tour
VoiceMap Audio Tours
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On this self-guided tour, you'll trace the history of this 'island of the unwanted' to a thriving community today. Experience the magic of GPS playback on this immersive stroll through Roosevelt Island. Discover the fascinating history of Roosevelt Island, from a sliver of farmland off of Manhattan to the home of New York City’s unwanted: prisoners, the mentally ill, and those with contagious diseases. On this walking tour, I’ll show you the island’s southern end where I’ll unpack some of its complicated 400-year-long history. Having grown up on Roosevelt Island, I love sharing the amazing history of this place and how it was transformed from the island of the unwanted into a thriving community. While you walk, you’ll see what’s left of its uncomfortable past and find out how hospitals and penitentiaries were replaced with the fabulous Southpoint Park, Cornell Tech facilities and Franklin D Roosevelt Four Freedoms State Park.
Departure Point
- Take the Roosevelt Island Tramway at 59th St. and 2nd Ave to the Island. The tour begins once you get off the tram on the Island. Or you can take the F Train to Roosevelt Island and walk south to the tramway station.
Return Details
- The tour ends at Franklin Delano Roosevelt Statue.
Duration
45 minutes - 1 hour
Languages Available
- Audio guide - English
- Printed guide - English
Points of Interest
Stop At: Roosevelt Island
New York, NY 10044
Gain a deeper understanding of Roosevelt Island's transformation from farmland to an area designated for the city’s unwanted populations, including prisoners and the mentally ill.
Duration: Not Available
Stop At: Roosevelt Island Tramway - Island station
West Main Street, New York, NY 10044
Visit the tramway’s island station and learn about its significance in connecting the island to Manhattan and facilitating its development.
Duration: Not Available
Stop At: Strecker Memorial Laboratory / CBG 603
New York, NY 10044
Pass by Strecker Memorial Laboratory, once a cutting-edge medical research facility and now a symbol of the island’s medical history.
Duration: Not Available
Stop At: Smallpox Memorial Hospital
East Road, New York, NY 10044
Walk among the ruins of the Smallpox Memorial Hospital, the only ruin in the city listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and hear about its role in treating contagious diseases.
Duration: Not Available
Stop At: Franklin D. Roosevelt Four Freedoms State Park
1 FDR Four Freedoms Park, New York, NY 10044
Stroll through the expansive Franklin D. Roosevelt Four Freedoms State Park, dedicated to FDR's famous Four Freedoms speech, and take in the magnificent bronze sculpture of Franklin Delano Roosevelt.
Duration: Not Available
Stop At: Southpoint Park
Roosevelt Island, New York, NY 10044
Enjoy the scenic beauty of Southpoint Park, which represents the island's renewal and transformation into a community-friendly area with green spaces.
Duration: Not Available
Stop At: Roosevelt Island Visitor Center Kiosk
New York, NY 10044
Stop by the Roosevelt Island Visitor Center Kiosk for more information about the island’s history, current attractions, and future developments.
Duration: Not Available
Stop At: FDR Hope Memorial
New York, NY 10044
End your tour at the FDR Hope Memorial, celebrating Franklin D. Roosevelt’s legacy and his message of hope and perseverance.
Duration: Not Available
Additional Information
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Get unlimited, lifetime use of this tour, before your booking date and after it
- The virtual playback option, so you can listen to this tour like an audiobook from anywhere
- Offline access to audio, maps, and geodata
- Flexibility to explore at your own pace with a self-guided GPS tour
- Directions to the starting point so that when you’re in the right place, the tour will start
Exclusions
- Smartphone and headphones (please bring your own)
- Entrance fees
Redemption Instructions
VOICEMAP CODE
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Please check your email at the address you provided when you made this booking. You've been sent an eight character code you'll need to redeem your tour.
This code can be used by every member of your party. If you've booked for three people, for example, three people can download this tour using the same code.
DOWNLOAD INSTRUCTIONS
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1. Once you've received your code, please follow these steps:
2. Install the VoiceMap Audio Tours mobile app
3. Create an account
4. Select Tour Codes from the menu, then select Enter Codes
5. Enter your code then select Download Now
PLEASE NOTE
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You can download the tour at any time, before or after your booking date. It’s best to download the tour before you set off for the starting point.
This tour follows a set route and includes turn-by-turn directions. It works best if you start it in the right place and follow the directions from one location to the next.
When the download completes, you’ll see a screen with a photo of the starting point and directions to it. The red start button will become active when you are at the starting point.
Remember to bring your own headphones, unless you have booked a driving tour.
SUPPORT
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For technical support and other queries, please email support@voicemap.me
Voucher Info
Mobile or paper ticket accepted
The tour identified in this promotion is made available through Viator. Groupon is not affiliated with or sponsored by the VoiceMap Audio Tours in connection with this deal. Please contact Groupon customer service for all inquiries related to this offer. Inquiries placed to Viator will be directed back to Groupon.
This offer is not eligible for promo codes.
Need To Know Info
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience.
Merchant is solely responsible to purchasers for the care and quality of the advertised goods and services. Offer is not eligible for our promo codes or other discounts. Learn about Strike-Through Pricing and Savings