Rikers Island forms part of the historic homeland of the Lenape people, before being overtaken by the Dutch in the 1600s. The island was later used as an outpost for the Dutch colonialists, and a key station in their conflict against indigenous communities in the area. In subsequent decades, the island was converted into a training facility, notably for the 26th Regiment of the U.S. Colored Troops and a POW facility for Confederate soldiers. This working group aims to trace the utilization of this space by city and federal authorities, and the development up to the current day.