Iona Island is a 556-acre bedrock island, part of the Hudson River nature reserve in Stony Point, New York. The island, separated from the Hudson's western shore by mudflats and freshwater tidal marshes, is a National Natural Landmark. It serves mainly as a bird sanctuary, particularly known as a winter nesting place for Bald Eagles. It was originally known as Salisbury Island, and later as Weygant's Island (for the local Weygant or Weian family). In 1847, it was bought by John Beveridge for Dr. E. W. Grant, his great son-in-law, who renamed it Iona Island and planted it with Iona grapes and fruit trees. In 1868, his creditors foreclosed on the island. The construction of the West Shore Railroad across the island in 1882 made it accessible to tourists, and an amusement park, hotel, and picnic grounds were built there. It also had a dock to accommodate pleasure steamers on the river. In 1900, |
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