South Brother Island, in the East River of New York State is a seven acre island consisting of dense forest, bittersweet vines, and flocks of wild birds. The island offers a glimpse of what the rest of the city might have looked like thousands of years ago.

Even if you live in NYC, chances are you have never heard of the island. In fact the island has historically been so overlooked that it was sold for $10 in 1975. That figure is even more astounding considering the island is in the middle of the city.

Yesterday the island formally changed hands to the city for $2 million. South Brother is situated between the Bronx and Queens. Officials have stated that the island will most likely be left in its natural state as a nature sanctuary. The island which is the smaller than its sibling North Brother Island, was once the quarantine home of Typhoid Mary.

Unlike the better-known East River islands like Randalls, Roosevelt and Rikers, South Brother’s past is murky. The island was once claimed by the Dutch West India Company in 1614, and was originally named “De Gesellen.” The islands soon passed into the hands of the English, but remained undeveloped for almost two centuries because of the treacherous currents surrounding them. It has also been rumored that South Brother may have been a base for Union soldiers during the Civil War.

Clearly this is an amazing and historically significant island. It is amazing that it has maintained its identity for so long considering it is on the doorstep of one of the largest cities in the world. To read more about the island click here.