Fort Lee (Salem, Massachusetts) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Fort Lee
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Overgrown earthworks of the fort
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| Nearest city | Salem, Massachusetts |
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| Built | 1776 |
| NRHP reference No. | 94000285 |
| Added to NRHP | April 14, 1994 |
Fort Lee is a historic fort located in Salem, Massachusetts. This special place played a part in the American Revolutionary War. It sits on a high spot near Fort Avenue on Salem Neck. What makes it unique is that its old walls and ditches are still mostly the same as they were long ago.
The fort is shaped like an irregular five-pointed star. This design helped protect it from different directions. Even though there might have been defenses here earlier, the fort you see today was clearly built in 1776.
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Fort Lee: A Revolutionary War Landmark
Fort Lee was built during the American Revolutionary War to help protect the area. It was a very important spot for defense. The fort was designed to be strong and hard to attack.
A Fort Through the Ages
Fort Lee has a long history, serving in several wars. It was first built in 1776. During the Revolutionary War, about 3 officers and 100 artillerymen were stationed here. They had 16 guns to defend the fort.
War of 1812
The fort was used again during the War of 1812. Soldiers from the Massachusetts militia were stationed there. After this war, the fort was no longer actively used for a while.
American Civil War
Fort Lee was rebuilt for the American Civil War. This happened many years after the Revolutionary War. New, powerful guns called 8-inch columbiads were added. An old drawing from 1872 shows the fort's star shape and where these four guns were placed.
Spanish-American War
The fort was also used during the Spanish–American War. This shows how important its location was for defending the coast.
What Remains Today?
Today, you can still see the old earthworks of Fort Lee. These are the raised mounds of dirt that formed the fort's walls. There is also a stone building called a magazine. This was used to store gunpowder safely.
The fort property became federal land in 1867. Later, in 1922, it was given to the City of Salem. For the United States bicentennial in 1976, the site was cleaned up. Trails were made, and signs were put up to explain its history. However, these were later removed, and the site has become overgrown again.
Fort Lee is recognized as an important historical site. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1994. This helps protect it for future generations to learn about.
