Later, it has been converted into a rehabilitation center for drug-addicted teenagers, which was closed in 1963. Today, nature reigns on the abandoned island of North Brother. In summer, you can admire buildings covered with ivy and take a stroll through the picturesque forest. However, many locals still do not dare to visit the island. Some of them believe that it is probable to contract dangerous diseases. Others are afraid to find among the ruined buildings the restless souls of patients, for whom North Brother has become the last refuge in life.
One of the first of contemporaries who wasn’t afraid of the tragic history of the island was the photographer Christopher Payne. In 2008, he has visited the island and made incredibly spectacular pictures of landscapes and dilapidated buildings. Since then, a number of those wishing to visit the island increased significantly. It’s not difficult to reach the uninhabited land. It is situated in the East River, only 350 meters off coast.
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