For all of you who thought there couldn't POSSIBLY be a castle in the middle of the Hudson River, I offer this wonderful photo essay as proof! Shown above and below is the very real Bannerman's Castle, site of Sidonia Galatzina's infamous party in the first Kiki Strike book. As you can see, it's just as I described it.
Though the ruins are beautiful, according to American Heritage, the building was even more spectacular before an unfortunate explosion toppled many of its walls.
"It was creviced and encrusted with battlements, towers, turrets, crenellations, parapets, embrasures, casements, and corbelling. Huge iron baskets suspended from the castle corners held gas-fed lamps that burned in the night like ancient torches. By day Bannerman’s castle gave the river a fairyland aspect. By night it threw a brooding silhouette against the Hudson skyline."
These stunning pictures are the work of photographer Shaun O'Boyle, who must have faced a fair number of ticks and snakes in order to take them. You can see more photos and read about the history of the castle here on one of my favorite blogs.
that's so interesting! It really is a beautiful building. Can you still go see it or is it resricted from us public peeps? O yeah, did u ever think about putting wallpaper downloads on this site? I want you and kiki on my desktop:)
ReplyDeleteThat's a good idea! I hadn't thought of that.
ReplyDeleteOh my gosh! I thought you'd made the castle thingy up!
ReplyDeleteYeah! There's tons of good graphic makers out there (Namely, myself) who make that sort of stuff! I'm personally disappointed at the lack of Kiki Strike Fanart (Lookl it up on Deviantart. Only like three pictures.
ReplyDeleteYou wanna make some wallpaper? I can send you illustrations. Technology isn't my strong suit.
ReplyDeleteAnanka - if you send me some illustrations, I could see what I could do. :)
ReplyDeleteI was wondering if it was real. :) cool.
ReplyDeleteWow. You guys are amazing. I'll send you some in a bit, Erin.
ReplyDeleteI'll try my hand at some as well, if that's okay?
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely! You're at Lovelenaxanoria, right? (All these names . . . )
ReplyDeleteExactly! By the way. lena is me as well. I am just too lazy to sign in at times.
ReplyDeleteI used 2 think ananka is anaka lol
ReplyDeleteWhen does kiki strike 3 come out?
ReplyDeleteYou are very intrguing, Mr. H. How do you know I'm not Ananka? Who is Ananka? Who is Kirsten Miller? These are the big questions!
ReplyDelete(Kidding)
I'm not sure when Kiki 3 will come out. But I've got it all in my head. It's very, very good. ;)
Hmmm... you're funny
ReplyDeleteI want a castle. :)
ReplyDelete"Mr. H" is my brother. I wonder what book 3 will be called!!!
ReplyDeleteYuck... i ate a piece of chocolate from Christmas '06 or '05. Maybe '04... It was good! Why am i sharing my chocolate secrets with the world? LOL.
ReplyDeleteThat is so cool. I have GOT to move to NYC!
ReplyDeleteYou're so mean! Why do you tease us so? jk! So yet again i have started a stir. My little wallpaper fad has taken off! I am very conceited arent't I? ha! Anyways, Lena, how do you make stuff a.k.a. desktop/wallpaper using illustrations? I know how to do many things on the computer, but that is one I never learned how to do. What application do you use?
ReplyDeleteSo ananka, i'm sending my book this week! look forward to it! lol:P
Chocolate is good, even if you found it in a treasure chest with rusty hinges in you back yard.
ReplyDeleteDon't ask how I know ;)
*Yawn!* It's 7 in the A.M.
ReplyDeleteThanks for checking in Mr. H.
ReplyDeleteSpring, you and your brother are a fabulous comedy team!
Thanks!
ReplyDeleteI can't picture the party in that castle...
ReplyDeleteToo bad. You should have been there.
ReplyDeleteyou terrible teaser! Weren't you and kiki in a little dingy in the river?
ReplyDeleteKirsten? on the front page it says: kiki strike: inside the shadow city afganistan, um it doesn't SEEM like it should say "afganistan"
ReplyDeleteJohn, I already pointed that out!
ReplyDeletewhat is he talking about? Ananka, hat is he talking about? Please tell me. Afganistan? Why do these things always pass under my radar.? And I thought i was a good sleuth! hmph:(
ReplyDeleteVery cool. I'll have to rent my boat and explore the grounds.
ReplyDeleteWhy are we talking about Afganistan, wallpaper, and old chocolates??? lolz.
Oh! By the way, can I have an image of the Kiki Strike cartoon when she's with the Vespa.
ReplyDeleteBlogger said I was located in Afghanistan, which hasn't been true for quite some time now.
ReplyDeleteAs for the wallpaper--if we have it, it's yours, Annemarie!
Yep, the Bannerman Island is real. I live by the Hudson River and I see it out in the middle of the river...it looks so cool, a castle just in the middle of all that water. My mom is always talking about it. I think it's restricted because I think military people use it now.
ReplyDelete