Fort Tompkins (Staten Island) facts for kids
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Fort Tompkins
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Southeast corner of the fort in 2016
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 Location in New York City
Location in New York
Location in the United States
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| Location | Fort Wadsworth, New York City |
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| Area | 3 acres (1.2 ha) |
| Built | 1847-1861 |
| Architectural style | Third System of US fortifications |
| NRHP reference No. | 74001300 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | July 30, 1974 |
Fort Tompkins is an old fort located on Staten Island in New York City. It's part of what is now called Fort Wadsworth, right by a narrow waterway known as the Narrows. For many years, from 1808 until about 1898, Fort Tompkins helped protect other forts nearby. It guarded the land side, making sure no enemies could sneak in.
The fort you see today was built between 1847 and 1861. It was used as a military fort until around 1898, when newer defense systems took over. Today, it's a cool historical spot within the Gateway National Recreation Area. It's also the last of four forts in New York State that were once named Fort Tompkins.
Contents
History of Fort Tompkins
Early Beginnings (1600s-1700s)
The land where Fort Tompkins stands was first used for military purposes way back in 1636. A Dutch settler named David Pieterszen de Vries built a small fort, called a blockhouse, on Signal Hill. This blockhouse was later burned down in 1655 during a conflict called the Peach Tree War.
Another blockhouse was built in 1663. This spot has been used by soldiers ever since. During the American Revolution, this area was known as Flagstaff Fort. The British took control of it in 1776 and made it even bigger. They held it until the war ended in 1783.
New York State Takes Over (Early 1800s)
In 1806, New York State took charge of the area. They built four new forts there, which were ready by 1808. These included Fort Richmond and the first Fort Tompkins. These early forts were made of red sandstone.
The first Fort Tompkins was shaped like a pentagon. It even had the old 1663 blockhouse inside it. Fort Richmond was named after Richmond County, where Staten Island is. Fort Tompkins was named after Daniel D. Tompkins, who was the governor of New York State during the War of 1812. New York City wasn't attacked in that war, so Fort Tompkins didn't see any fighting. However, it was made stronger with many cannons.
Building the Current Fort (Mid-1800s)
By 1835, the first Fort Richmond and Fort Tompkins were falling apart. The U.S. government started buying the land in 1836. In 1847, they began building completely new forts. This was part of a big national plan to build new forts after Washington, D.C., was burned in the War of 1812. This plan was called the "Third System of seacoast fortifications."
Some people believe that Robert E. Lee helped design the new Fort Richmond and Fort Tompkins. He was an engineer at a nearby fort in the 1840s. The new Fort Richmond had 116 cannons to protect against enemy ships. Fort Tompkins mainly protected the land side, with one side facing the sea.
The new Fort Tompkins was shaped like a wide rectangle. It was unusual because it didn't have many openings for cannons in its main walls. Instead, it had a cannon battery on its roof. The rest of the fort had small openings for muskets. It also had a ditch around it with tunnels. These tunnels led to hidden rooms that could fire more muskets at enemies in the ditch. Both forts were ready for use when the American Civil War started in 1861.
Later Years (1861-1905)
During the Civil War, the Fort Tompkins area was an important place for soldiers to gather. The fort was made even stronger. New York City was not attacked during this war, so the fort did not see any action.
In the 1890s, new and more modern gun batteries were built. This meant Fort Tompkins was no longer needed for defense. In 1902, the entire area was officially named Fort Wadsworth. Fort Richmond had already been renamed Fort Wadsworth in 1865, and later became known as Battery Weed.
Fort Tompkins Today
Fort Tompkins was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1974. This means it's recognized as an important historical site. In 1979, the Navy took over the site as part of Naval Station New York. However, in 1995, the Navy base closed. The Fort Wadsworth property, including Fort Tompkins, then became part of the Gateway National Recreation Area. It is now managed by the National Park Service.
Gallery
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Infantry in formation for inspection in the fort's open interior parade ground, probably early 20th century
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Fort Tompkins parade ground
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Fort Tompkins parade ground
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A cannon in Fort Tompkins
