Fort Fish facts for kids
Fort Fish was an old fort built a long time ago in what is now Central Park in New York City. It was a special kind of fort made mostly of earth, like a big dirt wall. You can find where it used to be near 105th Street on the east side of the park. Today, there's a bench there that remembers a famous city planner named Andrew Haswell Green.
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Fort Fish: A Historic Spot in Central Park
Fort Fish was an important part of New York City's defenses. It was built to protect the city during a time of war. This fort was named after Nicholas Fish. He was a very important person in New York. He led the city's Committee of Defense during the War of 1812. Nicholas Fish was also the father of Hamilton Fish, who later became a U.S. Senator and Secretary of State.
Why Was it Built? The War of 1812
Fort Fish was built during the War of 1812. This was a conflict between the United States and Great Britain. New York City was worried about attacks from British forces. To protect the city, a system of forts was quickly built. Fort Fish was one of these important defense points.
What is an Earthworks Fortification?
Fort Fish was an "earthworks fortification." This means it was built using earth and dirt. Soldiers would dig trenches and pile up mounds of earth. These mounds acted like strong walls. They helped protect the soldiers inside from enemy attacks. Building with earth was a fast way to create defenses during wartime.
McGowan's Pass: A Strategic Location
Fort Fish was located in an area called McGowan's Pass. This area is now part of Central Park. McGowan's Pass was a very important spot. It was a narrow valley that connected different parts of Manhattan. An old road, called the Old Post Road, ran through it. This road was like a main highway back then.
Why was McGowan's Pass important?
Because of the narrow pass and the road, it was a perfect place for forts. The forts could control who came in and out of the city from the north. Fort Fish was the southernmost fort in this defense system. It was built on a high spot, about 89 feet above sea level. This gave soldiers a great view of the surrounding area.
What's Left Today?
Most of the forts built during the War of 1812 are gone now. Only one part of the old defense system still stands. It is called Blockhouse No. 1. You can find it in the northern part of Central Park.
At the exact spot where Fort Fish once stood, there isn't much left of the fort itself. However, there is a special white marble bench. This bench is a memorial to Andrew Haswell Green. He was a very important person in the 1800s. He helped plan and create Central Park. The bench reminds us of his work and the history of this area.
