Mordecai Manuel Noah tried to establish the state of "Ararat" for the Jews on Grand Island, New York. The former diplomat hoped that establishing a permanent - or even temporary - settlement would provide broad opportunities for adherents of the religion.
Noah was able to collect enough Jewish donations to purchase approximately 9.8 square kilometers to build his project. In 1824, he convinced his wealthy friend, Samuel Leggett, to buy about a fifth of the area of Grand Island, near Niagara Falls and adjacent to the US border with Canada.