The Staten Island Ferry is a free ferry that crosses New York Bay from side to side. The ships are distinguished by their bright orange color. Here is the story of this now legendary color …
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The Staten Island ferry wasn’t always orange
- If you’ve been to New York before, you’ve probably taken the Staten Island ferry. This free ferry line connects southern Manhattan to Staten Island, passing off the Statue of Liberty. The opportunity to admire Miss Liberty and enjoy a mini-cruise in New York Bay. And you can’t miss the Staten Island ferries: their bright orange color is part of New York City’s decor!
- But did you know that the Staten Island ferry hasn’t always been orange? The very first line between Manhattan and Staten Island was started in 1810 by businessman Cornelius Vanderbilt. Other companies enter the market and there are as many as 3 different companies in the middle of the 18th century. The boats are then white, green, red, depending on the company!
- In 1853, the 3 companies merged giving birth to the Staten Island ferry that we know today and white prevails in the early 1900s.
The adoption of a new color in 1926
- The white color, although clean and bright, quickly shows its limits … White effectively makes boats difficult to see in fog or snow. In 1926, the New York City Department of Transportation decided to adopt a much brighter color, orange.
- This color has never left the ferry and it now dresses the 8 ships currently in service. For more information on this line, visit the dedicated Staten Island Ferry page. I also invite you to discover my 7 tips for enjoying the Staten Island ferry.
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