Why New York’s Smallest Private Island Was a Secret Spy Base | Rat Island

When you hear “Rat Island,” your mind might jump to something grim—but the truth is far more fascinating. Tucked between City Island and Hart Island in the Bronx, this rocky outcrop has quietly witnessed some of the strangest chapters in New York City history. From Revolutionary War espionage to yellow fever quarantines, it’s been a hideout for spies, a prison for the sick, and a retreat for artists and outcasts.

In this episode, we uncover the hidden story of Rat Island—New York’s only privately owned island. You’ll learn how a lone seaman lived in isolation for years, why Broadway actors gathered here in the 1930s, and how a Swiss statue wound up watching over the waves. Rat Island may be small, but its legacy is larger than life.