PLUM ISLANDPlum Island, 1954-2026: A Requiem
Plum Island is an 840-acre island in the Long Island Sound, just off Long Island’s North Fork (New York), a short distance from Connecticut. It has been federally owned since the 19th century and was long home to the Plum Island Animal Disease Center (PIADC), a research laboratory focused on foreign animal diseases such as foot-and-mouth disease.
About 20 years ago, The North Shore Leader ran a front-page picture of a mangled body of dead opossum swept ashore near Bayville, Long Island.. The story accompanying the picture suggested that more than a few residents believed the dead chicken was the subject of experiments at the Plum Island Animal Disease Center (PIADC).
In all likelihood it was not, but rumors surrounding the high-security facility on the island have accompanied it since it was built more than seven decades ago.
Research at PIADC has been phased out, and will come to an end at the end of 2026, when the last of the lab activities will be transferred to the National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility (NBAF) in Manhattan, Kansas.
Here we provide a brief history of the island and plans for its future, followed by a detailed timeline of all the important developments and events on the island from pre-Revolutionary days until today.
The Island
Plum Island is an 840-acre island in the Long Island Sound, just off Long Island’s North Fork (New York), a short distance from Connecticut. It has been federally owned since the 19th century and was long home to the Plum Island Animal Disease Center (PIADC), a research laboratory focused on foreign animal diseases such as foot-and-mouth disease.
The facility was established in 1954 and operated at Biosafety Level 3Ag, authorized to handle certain livestock pathogens. PIADC is slated to close as its functions are transferred to the National Bio and Agro‑Defense Facility (NBAF) in Manhattan, Kansas, a transition continuing through 2028. All research work on the island will end by the end of 2026
Beyond its scientific role, Plum Island has significant historical and ecological value:
Ecology:Over 200 bird species — nearly one-quarter of North America’s — have been observed there. Endangered species like the piping plover and important seal haul-out sites are found on the island.
History:Fort Terry (a coastal defense and research site) and the Plum Island Lighthouse, both on the National Register of Historic Places, reflect 19th- and 20th-century military and maritime heritage.
Transition, Cleanup, and Research Legacy
As PIADC winds down operations, the focus is increasingly on what comes next. The closure of a high-security research facility raises both practical and environmental questions:
