Gateway National Recreation Area

10/14/2026

When we think of fossils, dinosaurs and ancient bones may come to mind. But some of the most fascinating clues to Earth’s past come from something much quieter.

Welcome to the world of plant fossils! Plants have been a part of the Earth’s story for hundreds of millions of years. The fossil record can preserve an incredible variety of plant material – everything from leaves and flowers to tiny grains of pollen.

Scientists who study these fossils are called paleobotanists. These plant detectives use their findings in national parks to help reconstruct ancient ecosystems and understand what Earth may have looked like millions of years ago.

Imagine uncovering a fossilized leaf in the ground beneath your feet – a tiny relic from a world unlike the one you see now. That little leaf could hold clues about ancient forests, long-ago climates, and the plants and animals that once lived there, helping us understand how ecosystems have changed over time.

If you discovered a fossilized plant, what might it reveal about the world it lived in millions of years ago?



NPS Photo

10/09/2026

Gateway has many sites where you can view the night sky with less light pollution. There are two upcoming astronomy nights this month or you can come out on your own. Join the Amateur Astronomer's Association at 6 p.m. on October 16 at Floyd Bennett Field's Community Garden in Brooklyn or at 7:30 p.m. at Parking Lot A, Great Kills Park in Staten Island. Happy night (or early morning) sky gazing!

10/07/2026

Open House New York Weekend opens doors across New York City, giving people opportunities to discover the places, stories, architecture, and ideas that have shaped the city.

On October 18, step through the gates of Fort Wadsworth and experience a place where centuries of the New York Harbor history are still waiting to be discovered.

Overlooking the Narrows, Fort Wadsworth has witnessed generations of change from the evolution of coastal defense to the growth of New York City and the communities surrounding the harbor.

During this special Open House New York experience, visitors will have an opportunity to look beyond the walls and discover the stories connected to this remarkable historic landscape.

What will you discover when the doors open?

10/06/2026

Gateway National Recreation Area has many stories to tell. Long before Gateway was a part of the National Park Service, places like Fort Hancock, Floyd Bennett Field, Jacob Riis Beach, and Miller Field were buzzing with life, service, and community.

At Sandy Hook, stories are collected through oral history projects. Explore Gateway’s website and read the stories collected over the past 50 years of the men and women who served here during WWI, WWII, and the Cold War.

www.nps.gov/gate/learn/historyculture/sandyhookoral

Maybe you have a story to share.

What are your memories of the park before it became Gateway National Recreation Area? Share your stories of Fort Hancock, Floyd Bennet Field, Jacob Riis Beach, Miller Field or other parts of the park.

10/02/2026

09/29/2026

Crooke’s Point is more than a familiar name at Great Kills Park. It also preserves the story of John Jeremy Crooke, whose interests connected Staten Island to science, industry, and natural history.

Crooke was a metallurgist, inventor, businessman, and collector. He designed machinery, operated gold and silver mines, and developed patented industrial processes. His mansion, Liberty Hall, contained an extensive natural-history library and collections of plants and animals. He also helped save many of John James Audubon’s copper printing plates from being destroyed.

Crooke also played a role in Thomas Edison’s phonograph experiments. Crooke produced several thicknesses of tin foil which Edison tested as recording material, but the samples did not work.

Crooke eventually acquired approximately 320 acres of land at Great Kills. Crooke died at Liberty Hall in 1911. While the mansion later burned, the landscape of Crooke’s Point continues to carry his name. The next time you visit Crooke’s Point, remember the inventor, industrialist, and collector behind the name.

Which part of Crooke’s story surprises you most?



NPS Museum Collection

09/29/2026

Sandy Hook is now open. Normal operations have resumed.

09/26/2026

POSTPONED: **Due to inclement weather impacts, Raptorama has been postponed. New date to be determined, please check back here or see our calendar on our website for more info. For any questions, please reach out to the Jamaica Bay Wildilfe Refuge Visitor Center (718-318-4340).

Jamaica Bay-Rockaway Parks Conservancy American Littoral Society NYC PLOVER PROJECT NYC Parks NYC Bird Alliance

09/26/2026

Sandy Hook is closed until further notice due to flooding from the storm.

09/23/2026

Volunteer at Gateway National Recreation Area – Sandy Hook Unit for the annual Lighthouse Challenge of New Jersey on October 17 and 18!

Every year, the park is eager to recruit volunteers to assist with crowd control, record keeping, and public engagement during this exciting event.

If you’d like to join us, visit Volunteer.gov and search ‘Sandy Hook’. Make your Volunteer.gov account and apply for the position! Registration closes Saturday, September 26.

Thank you to all past, present, and future National Park Service volunteers! Learn more about the Lighthouse Challenge at: https://lighthousechallengenj.com



NPS Photo