Plum Island, New York
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PlumIslandCenter.jpg
Plum Island is an island in the Town of Southold in Suffolk County, New York in the USA. The island is in Gardiner's Bay, east of Orient Point.
Plum Island is a location of the Plum Island Animal Disease Center. The center conducts research on animal pathogens in order to protect farmers, ranchers, and the national food supply. Due to the nature of the research, access to the island and the research facility is restricted.
In 1775 the island was the site of a skirmish as American troops attempted to seize the island from the British, but were driven off.
Historic Plum Island Lighthouse is located on the island. The first lighthouse was constructed by order of George Washington in 1789. The lighthouse served to mark the location of turbulent tidal waters and shoals.
From 1899 to 1954 the island was home to Fort Terry, a military installation. The federal government bought part of the island to construct the fort during the Spanish-American War. Its military nature caused its reactivation as an anti-submarine base during World War II. Its last use by the military was a Chemical Corps facility. The Department of Agriculture took over the island.
The island is now under the control of the Department of Homeland Security.
External links
- Official website (http://www.ars.usda.gov/plum/)
Plum Island is also the title of a novel by Long Island author Nelson DeMille, who uses the island as one of his settings in the book.