Take a virtual ride on the Staten Island Ferry, back when the fare was just 5 cents. With over 200 rare and historic images, the curious story of Staten Island comes to life, revealing a fascinating history.

Staten Island, one of the five boroughs of New York City, is still remembered fondly for the 5[ Staten Island Ferry ride to Manhattan. The rolling hills of Staten Island greet ships as they enter the Narrows of New York Harbor and sail beneath the Verrazano Narrows Bridge. The island's ever-evolving history dates back to days as a hunting ground of the Lenape Indian tribe. Today, it is a thriving suburban community. In this volume, the reader will explore the roots of this historic island, tour its streets, and meet some memorable Staten Islanders--Commodore Cornelius Vanderbilt, founder of one of the largest fortunes in America; Governor Daniel Tompkins, who served as vice president of the United States under President Monroe; and Alice Austen, one of the pre-eminent women photographers of the nineteenth century. Italian patriot Giuseppe Garibaldi and inventor Antonio Meucci created a legacy on the island, as did the oystermen from Snow Hill, Maryland, who founded Sandy Ground. The reader also glimpses historic charitable organizations such as Sailors' Snug Harbor and Mount Loretto and visits the living village known as Historic Richmondtown.