Who discovered Long Island?
Long Island was not “discovered” in the true sense of the word, as it had been inhabited by Indigenous peoples for thousands of years before Europeans arrived. The first recorded European to explore the island was the Italian navigator Giovanni da Verrazzano, who sailed along its coastline in 1524 while exploring for France. Later, in 1609, English explorer Henry Hudson, sailing for the Dutch East India Company, explored nearby waterways that led to Dutch settlement in the region.
In Short
No single person “discovered” Long Island. Indigenous peoples had lived on the island for thousands of years before Europeans arrived. The first recorded European exploration of Long Island is credited to Giovanni da Verrazzano in 1524, while Henry Hudson’s 1609 voyage helped pave the way for Dutch settlement.
Who Discovered Long Island?
Long before European explorers reached Long Island, the island was home to Indigenous peoples who had lived there for thousands of years. Communities occupied different parts of the island, establishing villages, trading networks, and cultures that flourished centuries before European contact. For that reason, historians generally avoid saying that Long Island was “discovered,” since it was already inhabited.
The first recorded European explorer to reach the area was Giovanni da Verrazzano, an Italian navigator sailing on behalf of France. During his 1524 voyage, he explored portions of the Atlantic coast and observed the coastline of what is now Long Island, as well as the entrance to New York Harbor.
Nearly a century later, in 1609, Henry Hudson sailed into the region while working for the Dutch East India Company. His exploration of the waterways surrounding present-day New York City helped establish Dutch claims in the area and eventually led to European settlement on Long Island and throughout what would become New York State.
During the decades that followed, Dutch and English settlers established communities across western and eastern Long Island. Over time, these settlements grew into the communities that now make up Brooklyn, Queens, Nassau County, and Suffolk County.
Quick Facts
| Category | Information |
|---|---|
| Original Inhabitants | Indigenous peoples lived on Long Island for thousands of years before European arrival. |
| First Recorded European Explorer | Giovanni da Verrazzano (1524) |
| Later Explorer | Henry Hudson (1609) |
| European Settlement | Dutch and English settlements followed during the 17th century. |
| Modern Counties | Brooklyn, Queens, Nassau County, and Suffolk County |
| State | New York State |
The history of Long Island stretches back thousands of years before the arrival of Europeans. While Giovanni da Verrazzano is generally recognized as the first recorded European explorer to observe the island in 1524, Long Island’s story began much earlier with the Indigenous peoples who first called it home. Their legacy, together with centuries of exploration, settlement, and growth, helped shape the island into the diverse and historically significant region it is today.
