In 1908, prison authorities began looking for a new location for the Sing Sing prison and felt that the Bear Mountain would meet their needs. However, people lobbied against relocating the prison, and the state of New York eventually succeeded. The president of Union Pacific Railroad, E. H. Harriman, passed away that year, and his wife offered 10,000 acres and a million dollars if New York would turn it into a state park. Other prominent community leaders and benefactors like John D. Rockefellers donated a significant sum, too, contributing to the cause. Bear Mountain State Park was officially established and opened to the public in 1913.