RI 50 Exhibit Celebrating 50 Years Of Residents First Moving To Roosevelt Island Unveiled Today At Tram Plaza

This afternoon the Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) and Roosevelt Island Historical Society (RIHS) unveiled a new exhibition of maps, photos and infographics celebrating 50 years of residents first moving to Roosevelt Island. The exhibit is located at the Tram Plaza next to the RIHS Visitors Center Kiosk.

According to RIOC Asssistant VP Of Communications & Government Affairs Bryant Daniels:

To mark the 50th anniversary of residents first moving to Roosevelt Island, the Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation (RIOC) and the Roosevelt Island Historical Society (RIHS) have teamed up to bring the island’s history to life via a special art history exhibit in Tram Plaza, featuring photos, maps, and infographics highlighting how the island has grown and evolved since the original land survey the state conducted in 1969. The exhibit, “RI 50”, was born out of a partnership between RIOC, RIHS, and Dylan Brown, a Masters of Urban Planning student at Hunter College’s Department of Urban Policy and Planning, who designed the exhibit in coordination with RIHS President and longtime Roosevelt Island resident Judy Berdy.

The exhibit consists of two large maps—one of the island in 2025 and one from its original land survey in 1969—and two info graphic panels that detail how the island has developed over the past 5+ decades. The panels tell the story of the island’s rich history, walking visitors back in time to understand how the one-time “Welfare Island” became a serene home to more than 12,000 New Yorkers today. The exhibit itself stands at the site of the former Elevator Storehouse Building, which, until 1970, you could take to ascend to the deck of the Queensboro Bridge and board what was the last remaining trolley line in the State of New York. 

I spoke with Mr Brown and Ms Berdy shortly after the exhibit’s unveiling.

RIOC adds:

… “Roosevelt Island’s story is one of transformation, resilience, and community,” said B.J. Jones, President and CEO of the Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation. “This exhibit beautifully captures the spirit of that journey—from the island’s earliest days to the thriving neighborhood we know today. We’re grateful to Judy Berdy and the Roosevelt Island Historical Society, and Dylan Brown, for helping us celebrate 50 years of residents who have made this island such a special place.”

“Dylan Brown has an extraordinary talent for delving into island history, way back from the 1960s, and he’s discovered many of our resources that we really did not know we had, including maps and photographs, and other archival material,” said Judy Berdy, President of the Roosevelt Island Historical society. “he’s worked with us for the last year, and his work has proved invaluable. We are greatly appreciative of the time and effort he has put in to doing these two maps and the associated photography works that go with it.”

“Roosevelt Island is such a special place. Its history is layered and seemingly never-ending, which sent me down the rabbit hole that led to the creation of this exhibit: ‘RI 50,’” said Dylan Brown, designer of the exhibit. “These maps are two snapshots: the first being of what currently exists in front of you in the year 2025, the second, a survey of the Island in 1969 in its final days before large scale demolition would begin for redevelopment. I often think about the millions of lives touched by the Islands institutions. I also think about the people who come today, possibly not realizing that they are experiencing the tail end of what was a metamorphosis – a celebrated experiment in modern city planning.

“I want to give many thanks to Judith Berdy and all the RIHS staff who have continuously supported me in my research for this project and beyond. I also want to thank the staff of RIOC who worked hard to materialize this exhibit, and for their work in keeping Roosevelt Island functioning. I am honored to have my work displayed here – to contribute to telling the story of the Island seemly nobody knew.” 

The exhibit will remain on display in Tramway Plaza for visitors to enjoy through early 2026…. 

Here’s today’s full RI 50 exhibit unveiling ceremony.