Fort Wadsworth facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Fort Wadsworth |
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| Part of Harbor Defenses of Southern New York | |
| Staten Island, New York | |
Battery Weed at Fort Wadsworth
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 Fort Wadsworth
Fort Wadsworth
Fort Wadsworth
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| Coordinates | 40°36′18″N 74°03′24″W / 40.60500°N 74.05667°W |
| Type | Gateway National Recreation Area unit |
| Site information | |
| Controlled by | U.S. Army until 1979 (?) U.S. Navy 1979-1995 National Park Service 1995-present |
| Site history | |
| Built | 1663 (Dutch blockhouse) |
Fort Wadsworth is a historic former U.S. military base on Staten Island in New York City. It sits right on The Narrows, a narrow waterway that connects the Upper and Lower parts of New York Bay. This location was perfect for defending New York City from attacks by sea.
Before it closed in 1994, Fort Wadsworth was known as the longest continuously used military base in the United States. It includes several old forts, like Fort Tompkins and Battery Weed. In 1865, it was named after Brigadier General James S. Wadsworth, a brave soldier who died during the Civil War. Today, Fort Wadsworth is part of the Gateway National Recreation Area on Staten Island, managed by the National Park Service.
A Look Back: Fort Wadsworth's History
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Early Days: From Blockhouse to Forts
The land where Fort Wadsworth stands was first used for military purposes in 1663. A Dutch settler named David Pieterszen de Vries built a small fort, called a blockhouse, on Signal Hill. This is now where Fort Tompkins is located. It's believed that soldiers have been stationed here ever since.
During the American Revolution, the area was known as Flagstaff Fort. The British captured it in 1776 and made it bigger. After the war ended in 1783, it became the responsibility of New York State. By 1808, four new forts were built there: Forts Richmond, Tompkins, Morton, and Hudson. These forts were ready for battle, with space for 164 guns!
Fort Richmond was named after Richmond County, where Staten Island is. Fort Tompkins was named after Daniel D. Tompkins, who was New York's governor during the War of 1812.
Defending New York in the War of 1812
During the War of 1812, New York State made Fort Richmond and the other forts even stronger. By 1815, there were reportedly 900 cannons in the area! New York City was never attacked during that war. This was probably because of the huge number of forts and cannons protecting the city and its harbor. So, the forts at Wadsworth never had to fire their guns in a real battle.
Building Stronger Forts: The Third System
By 1835, the forts were old and needed repairs. So, in 1847, the U.S. government started rebuilding Forts Richmond and Tompkins. This was part of a big national plan called the "Third System of Seacoast Fortifications." This plan was created after the burning of Washington, D.C. in the War of 1812, to make sure U.S. coasts were well-protected.
Some people believe that Robert E. Lee, who later became a famous general in the Civil War, helped design these new forts. Fort Richmond (now Battery Weed) was very unique. It had an amazing four levels of cannons facing the sea! This was a rare design, only seen in a few other forts in the U.S. Both forts were almost finished when the Civil War began in 1861.
Fort Wadsworth During the Civil War
New York City was not attacked by sea during the Civil War. So, the forts at Wadsworth didn't see direct combat. However, they were very important as places where soldiers gathered and prepared for war. After the war, military leaders realized that old-style masonry (stone and brick) forts were no longer the best defense.
In the 1870s, new types of batteries were built with powerful Rodman guns. These were large cannons that fired huge, heavy cannonballs. Fort Richmond also got a special room called a "mine casemate" in 1875. This room was used to control an underwater minefield in the harbor, which could stop enemy ships.
Modernizing Defenses: The Endicott Period
In 1885, a group of military experts, led by William Crowninshield Endicott, decided that U.S. coastal defenses needed a major upgrade. This led to the "Endicott Program," which brought new, modern guns to forts across the country, including Fort Wadsworth.
As part of this program, the entire fort area was officially renamed Fort Wadsworth in 1902. The old Fort Richmond became Battery Weed, named after another Civil War general, Stephen H. Weed.
From 1896 to 1905, many new batteries were added to Fort Wadsworth. These included powerful 12-inch and 10-inch guns that could "disappear" after firing, making them harder for enemies to target. There were also smaller, faster-firing guns.
In 1910, Fort Wadsworth fired a special 21-gun salute to former President Theodore Roosevelt as his ship sailed through The Narrows. In 1913, President William Howard Taft even helped start a project for a huge National American Indian Memorial at Fort Tompkins. It was supposed to be a 165-foot-tall statue, but it was never finished due to fundraising problems and World War I.
World War I and Beyond
During World War I, Fort Wadsworth was a very important fort protecting New York City. Some of its batteries were kept ready to fire 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. After the war, some of the older guns were removed.
By 1924, Fort Wadsworth became mainly an infantry (foot soldier) base. Its big coastal artillery guns were kept in "caretaker status," meaning only a few soldiers were there to maintain them. This was because newer, even more powerful long-range guns were built at other forts like Fort Hancock, New Jersey and Fort Tilden, making Fort Wadsworth a "second line of defense."
World War II and Later Years
Fort Wadsworth was an important place for gathering soldiers during World War II. However, it didn't get many new weapons. The main defenses for New York City were now at other forts with huge 16-inch guns. Fort Wadsworth's older, heavy guns were slowly taken apart during the war.
After World War II, all U.S. coastal artillery guns were removed. From 1948 to 1960, Fort Wadsworth was the headquarters for the Antiaircraft Artillery Brigade, which defended New York City from air attacks. It also hosted the U.S. Army Chaplain school and a museum.
In 1979, the base was given to the United States Navy, which used it as the main office for Naval Station New York. But in 1995, the Navy left, and the property was transferred to the National Park Service.
Today, the United States Coast Guard uses some of the buildings at Fort Wadsworth. The United States Army Reserve also has offices there. Other buildings are used by the National Park Service for administration and education, and by the United States Park Police.
Fort Wadsworth Today
You can visit the historic structures at Fort Wadsworth today. These include Battery Weed, right on the harbor, and Fort Tompkins, which sits on the bluff above. Both were built in the mid-1800s. You can explore them on guided tours.
There are also smaller coastal artillery batteries from the early 1900s. From an overlook, you can enjoy amazing views of the Upper Bay, Brooklyn, and Manhattan. There's also a memorial to Father Vincent R. Capodanno, a Navy chaplain from Staten Island who bravely died in Vietnam and received the Medal of Honor.
The National Park Service has a visitors' center at the fort and offers tours led by park rangers.
Fun Events at Fort Wadsworth
Fort Wadsworth is famous for being the starting point of the New York City Marathon. This huge running race (over 26 miles long!) goes through all five boroughs of New York City. The Five Boro Bike Tour, a fun cycling event, also ends with a festival at Fort Wadsworth.
The Fort Wadsworth Neighborhood
The name "Fort Wadsworth" is also sometimes used for the neighborhood around the old fort. This area is south of Rosebank, west of Shore Acres, and north of South Beach. This neighborhood once had a train station on the Staten Island Railway, but service stopped there in 1953.
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Rosebank & Clifton | Shore Acres & Upper New York Bay | Bay Ridge & Fort Hamilton | |
| Rosebank |  |
The Narrows | ||
 Fort Wadsworth  |
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| Grasmere | Arrochar | South Beach & Lower New York Bay |
