A Panopticon is a circular prison design, originally devised by English philosopher and social theorist Jeremy Bentham, where the cells are constructed in a circular fashion with a central tower being able to see inside each cell easily and down upon the "yard" while the inmates are exercising. The design has been used historically throughout Europe and occasionally here in the US.
Castle Williams, on Governor's Island, is basically a Panopticon, but with no central tower. Corrie and I were among the last visitors allowed through the gates this past Sunday, as it was closing for the day. Here are some pictures.
The fact that it was in use up until the 1960s explains the presence of the glass over the bars. From the outside, the winnowed window fixtures are quite striking, and I had Corrie jump up into it and have a seat to show some scale.
Walking around inside was not quite as eerie as walking around Alcatraz, but there definitely were some vibes and bad energy in the space.
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