Fort Rodman facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Fort Taber District
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Fort Rodman
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 Location in Massachusetts
Location in the United States
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| Location | New Bedford, Massachusetts |
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| Built | 1861 |
| Architect | Robert E. Lee, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers |
| Architectural style | Third System fortification |
| NRHP reference No. | 73001954 |
| Added to NRHP | February 8, 1973 |
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The Fort Taber District is a cool historic spot in New Bedford, Massachusetts. It's home to the old Fort Rodman Military Reservation, which was a military fort built during the American Civil War. Today, this area is a fun place called Fort Taber Park, a big 47-acre park at Clark's Point. There was also an earlier fort, called Fort Taber, built nearby to protect the city while the bigger stone fort was still being built.
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Fort Taber: The First Defense
When the Civil War started in April 1861, the main fort (Fort Rodman) wasn't ready yet. So, a smaller, temporary fort called Fort Taber was quickly built. It was made of earth and had six cannons. This fort was named after New Bedford's mayor at the time. It helped protect the city until the larger stone fort was ready in 1863. Today, you can still see where Fort Taber was, marked by a stone outline right behind the main stone fort.
Fort Rodman: The Big Stone Fort
Building a Stronghold
Fort Rodman is also known as the "Old Stone Fort." Its construction began in 1857. It was part of a big plan to build strong forts along the U.S. coast. In 1862, a famous engineer named Henry Robert (who later wrote Robert's Rules of Order) helped oversee the building. The fort was designed to hold 72 cannons on three levels. They originally planned for a fourth level, but decided to skip it to finish the fort faster. Construction stopped in 1871, and the fort was never fully completed as first imagined.
New Guns and New Names
Around 1898, new types of gun batteries were being built across the country. The U.S. Army officially named this site the Fort Rodman Military Reservation. It was named after Lieutenant Colonel Logan Rodman, a soldier from New Bedford who died in 1863 during the Civil War. Fort Rodman became the main defense for the New Bedford harbor. Soldiers from the United States Army Coast Artillery Corps were stationed here. Besides big guns, the fort also had equipment to set up and control underwater minefields to stop enemy ships. In 1973, the site was added to the National Register of Historic Places, recognizing its historical importance.
The new gun batteries at Fort Rodman were built between 1898 and 1902, with more added later. Here are some of the main ones:
- Battery Walcott: Had one 8-inch disappearing gun. These guns could pop up to fire and then drop back down to hide.
- Battery Barton: Also had one 8-inch disappearing gun.
- Battery Cross: Had two 5-inch guns on pedestals.
- Battery Craig: Had two 3-inch guns that could be hidden behind a wall.
- Battery Gaston: Also had two 3-inch guns that could be hidden.
- Battery Milliken: Built later, it had two very large 12-inch guns on long-range mounts.
- Unnamed Battery: Had two 155mm guns on special circular concrete platforms called Panama mounts.
These batteries were named after brave soldiers who served in different wars.
Fort Rodman During World Wars
During World War I, some guns were taken from forts to be used on battlefields in Europe. The two 5-inch guns from Battery Cross were even put on a transport ship! They came back after the war but were later removed. The 8-inch guns were also taken off their mounts for a short time, but they stayed at Fort Rodman.
In 1920, the older 3-inch guns were removed and not replaced.
Battery Milliken was built between 1917 and 1921. Its huge 12-inch guns could shoot much farther than the older guns. During World War II, Battery Milliken's guns were put inside concrete rooms (called casemates) to protect them from air attacks. The fort also had a switchboard, which was operated by the Women's Army Corps during World War II.
In 1938, two 155mm guns on "Panama mounts" were added. Many temporary buildings were also built to house the soldiers who were called to serve. By 1942, only the 12-inch guns of Battery Milliken and the 155mm guns were still active. The fort was defended by the 23rd Coast Artillery unit.
After World War II ended in 1946, Fort Rodman's guns were removed. The fort was then given to the state of Massachusetts.
Other Nearby Defenses
During World War II, other smaller batteries were built around New Bedford and Buzzards Bay to protect the area.
- A battery with two 6-inch guns was built at Mishaum Point Military Reservation in Dartmouth.
- Two batteries with 90mm guns were placed at Barneys Joy Point Military Reservation and on Cuttyhunk Island. These were called Anti-Motor Torpedo Boat (AMTB) batteries because they were meant to stop small, fast enemy boats.
- Another 90mm battery was on Nashawena Island.
- A 155mm gun battery, later replaced by a 90mm AMTB battery, protected the entrance to the Cape Cod Canal at Butler Point Military Reservation in Marion.
Fort Taber Today
All of the fort's guns were removed by 1948. The fort grounds later became a military reserve center, and part of the site was even used for a wastewater treatment plant. Some of the old fort buildings are now used by University of Massachusetts Dartmouth. The military reserve center closed in the 1970s.
Today, most of the former fort is a public park that everyone can enjoy! The old stone fort and gun batteries are fenced off for safety, but you can still see them. Sometimes, the stone fort is opened for special events.
Clarks Point Lighthouse
You can also see the Clarks Point Light on top of the fort's wall. It was first a separate tower, but it was moved to the fort in 1869 because the fort's walls were blocking its light. It was turned off in 1898 but was lit again in 2001 by the city to help guide boats.
Fort Taber Historical Association Museum
The Fort Taber Historical Association Museum is located right in Fort Taber Park. Inside, you can see a small model of the fort, old military uniforms, photos, and other cool items from the fort's history. It's run by the Fort Taber/Fort Rodman Historical Association and opened in 2004.
Park Activities
Fort Taber Park is a great place to visit. You can explore the different gun batteries. The park also hosts exciting re-enactments of events from the American Revolution, American Civil War, and World War II.
A real M-4 Sherman tank from World War II is on display in the park. This tank was recovered from the debris of a training exercise called Exercise Tiger and serves as a memorial for those who died during that event. A special ceremony is held every year to remember them.
See also
