“Eight miles,” they say. That’s the length of Victory Boulevard, a major road here on Staten Island. Victory Boulevard stretches from Travis on the West Shore to St. George and Tompkinsville on the East Shore. It’s a route steeped in history.
Let’s journey back to 1816. Victory Boulevard was then the Richmond Turnpike. It was established by the Richmond Turnpike Company. Daniel D. Tompkins owned it. He later became Vice President of the United States. The turnpike aimed to be the quickest route from New York to Philadelphia. Ferries would arrive at Bay Street. Horse-drawn carriages then carried people to Travis. From there another ferry crossed the Arthur Kill to New Jersey.
Now fast forward to after World War I. The Richmond Turnpike was renamed Victory Boulevard. This honored the Allied victory. Part of Victory Boulevard became Route 439A in the late 1940s. This section ran from Richmond Avenue to Forest Avenue. Another part, east of Forest Avenue, became part of NY 439 down to Bay Street. These designations were removed around 1968.
Did you know that Victory Boulevard is unique? It is the only street on Staten Island that meets three expressways. These are the West Shore Expressway, the Staten Island Expressway, and the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Expressway.
Several important places are located along Victory Boulevard. The Travis Independence Day Parade is one. Sylvan Grove Cemetery is another. The Mid-Island Little League field is here too. And let’s not forget the College of Staten Island. It was once the Willowbrook State School. The Bulls’ Head Tavern was also on Victory Boulevard. It stood at the corner of Richmond Avenue. It was known for Tory meetings during the American Revolution.
Once, Travis was called Linoleumville. This was from the 1860s to 1930. It was home to America’s first linoleum factory.
Today several bus routes serve Victory Boulevard. The S62 and S92 LTD run along most of the road west of Bay Street. The S66 runs on two sections of it. Other buses like the SIM32 and S93 also use parts of Victory Boulevard.
The Staten Island Railway has a station at the road’s eastern end.
As you travel Victory Boulevard think about its past. From a turnpike to a vital thoroughfare. It connects communities and memories. Victory Boulevard isn’t just a road. It is a piece of Staten Island’s story.