19th Century Ownership and Development

Elisha King purchased the island in 1829, using it primarily for stone quarrying. Through the 19th century and into the early 20th century, High Island passed between owners such as Samuel Wooley and David C. Curtis and later became a summer retreat, hosting tent and bungalow facilities for seasonal visitors.

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Broadcasting and the Radio Age

In October 1960, NBC purchased the island and later sold a partial interest to CBS, aiming to create a major transmission facility. By 1963, High Island was home to a prominent radio tower broadcasting for WNBC (660 AM) and WCBS (880 AM), making it a critical piece of NYC’s radio infrastructure. In August 1967, a plane crash destroyed the main tower, temporarily taking the stations off the air and creating a dramatic episode in radio history.

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Early 20th Century: Resort Era

During the 1920s, the Miller family operated a summer rental colony with about 40 cottages on the island, popular among middle-class New Yorkers seeking a getaway close to the city. This use faded by the early 1960s as the trend toward summer bungalows diminished.

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Ecological Context and Land Use

Despite episodes of industry and recreation, High Island remains relatively undisturbed and is an ecological outpost in the Bronx archipelago. Its rocky terrain and isolation support nesting seabirds and some natural habitats, complementing the adjacent Pelham Bay Park coastal ecosystems.

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Indigenous and Early Colonial History

High Island was historically associated with the Siwanoy, a Lenape-speaking Indigenous group who occupied the shores of western Long Island Sound, including nearby City Island and Pelham Bay. In 1654, the area encompassing High Island became part of Thomas Pell’s famous land purchase from the Native peoples, setting the foundation for future private ownership.

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Naming and Natural Features

Once called Shark Island due to the presence of sand sharks in adjacent waters, the island eventually became known as High Island because of its relatively tall, gumdrop-shaped form. Its bedrock geology is part of the same Manhattan schist terrain seen throughout the region.

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Ownership Changes and Modern Broadcasting

After several mergers and transfers—including sales to Emmis Communications, Infinity Broadcasting, and Westinghouse—the island remained a unique location where two non-directional, 50,000-watt signals are transmitted from a single tower. In 2024, a new operator, Good Karma Brands, took over, changing WCBS’s call letters to WHSQ and switching to ESPN Radio sports programming.

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Present Status and Legacy

High Island is currently closed to the public, serving primarily as a broadcast site. Its layered history—from Indigenous use, oyster grounds, resort era, to the technological age—mirrors the Bronx’s adaptation to shifting economic and urban needs.

High

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LOCATION

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HISTORY AND CULTURE

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Uncover the unique character and hidden corners of the harbor.

Community Organizations

NYC Department of Parks & Recreation - Pelham Bay Park

Bronx County Historical Society

Articles and Books

Bronx Island Histories — Bronx Borough Podcast Series

Birding Bolivar Peninsula 2025, High Island History

WCBS: A Radio Island in the Stream — Radio World, 2021

City Island History | Bronx — City Island Nautical Museum, 2019

High Island Mystery — Cranbrook Kitchen Sink, 2019

Bronx Islands: A Brief Guide — Welcome2TheBronx, 2018

City Island, Bronx — Wikipedia (context for nearby islands)

More on the History of High Island in the Town of Pelham — Historic Pelham Blog, 2017

High Island (Bronx) — Wikipedia, 2004

The Islands of Pelham Bay — NYC Parks