The Lt. Coursen ferry ride from Manhattan to the 172-acre island -- about 800 yards -- takes five minutes. For more information, visit Governors Island Preservation & Education Corp. web pages. It manages about 150 acres. The other 22 acres -- historic Castle Williams and Fort Jay -- were designated a national monument in 2001, transferred Jan. 31, 2003 to the Interior Dept. and are managed by the National Park Service.