Ruffle Bar

Island

Jamaica Bay’s oyster ghost town, now a low tide of memories and marsh.

LOCATION

Of The

Island

Colonial Land Claims and Ownership
Cultural Memory and Contemporary Recognition
Ecological Mapping and Current Habitat Status
Environmental Decline and Pollution
Future Conservation and Ecological Goals
Indigenous Presence and Usage
Legal Disputes and Urban Development Pressures
The Oyster Industry and Community Life
HISTORY AND CULTURE

Major

Aspects

Of The

Islands

Uncover the unique character and hidden corners of the harbor.

Community Organizations

NYC Audubon
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Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge
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NYC Department of Parks & Recreation
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Brownstoner Brooklyn History Contributors
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Articles and Books

Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge — The Cultural Landscape Foundation, 2012
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Natural Areas Initiative — New Yorkers for Parks, 2018
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Islands of the Undesirables: Randall's Island and Wards Island — Atlas Obscura, 2015
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JAMAICA BAY: A HISTORY — National Park Service, 2006
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History of Racial Formation in Colonial New York City — Columbia University, 2024
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Oyster Boards in the Old Town Records — NYC Municipal Archives, 2022
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Nightlife & Entertainment: Best Bronx Bars — New York Magazine, 1999
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Photos: After $15 Million Restoration, Marine Park's White Island — BKLYNER, 2014
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Jamaica Bay and Marine Park Ecological Restoration Feasibility Study — US Army Corps of Engineers, 2013
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Jamaica Bay Ecosystem Profile — New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, 2013
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The Changing Traditional Uses of Jamaica Bay, New York — National Park Service, 2002
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Ruffle Bar – Forgotten New York — Forgotten New York, 2019
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Ruffle Bar — Wikipedia, 2009
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Ruffle Bar and Robbins Reef: NYC's Forgotten Oyster Islands — 6sqft, 2023
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