Fort Winthrop facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Fort Winthrop |
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| Governors Island, Boston Harbor, Massachusetts | |
Late 19th-century engraving showing a view of the fort from Boston Harbor
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 Fort Winthrop
Location in Massachusetts
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| Coordinates | 42°21′07″N 71°00′43″W / 42.35194°N 71.01194°W |
| Type | Coastal Defense |
| Site information | |
| Owner | Logan Airport |
| Condition | no remains |
| Site history | |
| Built | 1808-1812 |
| Built by | Lt. Colonel Sylvanus Thayer, US Army Corps of Engineers |
| In use | 1812-1905 |
| Demolished | 1905 |
| Battles/wars | War of 1812 American Civil War |
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Fort Winthrop was an old fort built in 1808 to protect Boston Harbor. It was first called Fort Warren. Later, in 1834, it was renamed Fort Winthrop. This new name honored John Winthrop, who was an early governor of the Massachusetts Bay Colony.
Contents
Building Fort Winthrop: A Look at Its History
Governors Island: From Private Land to Fort Site
Fort Winthrop was built on Governors Island. This island was first known as Conant's Island. In 1632, it was given to John Winthrop. His family owned the island for many years.
In 1808, the United States government bought land in the middle of the island. They wanted to build a fort there. This was part of a plan called the "Second System of US fortifications." This plan aimed to build strong defenses along the coast.
Early Construction and Design
Between 1808 and 1812, workers built an earth fort. It was shaped like an eight-pointed star. Sylvanus Thayer, a famous engineer, was in charge of building it. He later became the head of West Point.
In 1811, the Secretary of War, Henry Dearborn, described the fort. He said it was a "star fort of masonry" with twelve guns. It also had brick barracks for 40 soldiers. There were also two round batteries, each with ten guns.
Name Change and New Fort Warren
The fort was first named Fort Warren. This name honored Joseph Warren, a hero from the Revolutionary War. But in 1834, the name was moved. A new Fort Warren was built on George's Island. So, the fort on Governors Island became Fort Winthrop.
Expanding the Fort: The Third System of Fortifications
In 1846, the government bought the rest of Governors Island. Soon after, they started building a stone fort. This was part of the "Third System of fortifications." This new plan made forts even stronger.
The new fort included a three-story citadel. A citadel is a strong fortress inside a larger fort. This one had many small openings for muskets. It also had 16 guns on its rooftop. The older West Head and South-east batteries were rebuilt. Each of these had seven guns. Sylvanus Thayer returned to help with the early building of the citadel. Later, Joseph K. Mansfield took over.
Civil War Challenges and Upgrades
During the American Civil War, older stone forts faced problems. New powerful cannons, called rifled artillery, could damage them easily. For example, Fort Pulaski in Georgia was badly damaged. This showed that new defenses were needed.
So, in the 1870s, Fort Winthrop was improved. New earthworks were added. The South Battery was rebuilt with 18 guns. A new East Battery was added with seven guns. A Mortar Battery was also built with six mortars. Some very large 15-inch Rodman guns were part of these upgrades.
Abandonment and Demolition
Work on the fort stopped in 1875. After that, only one soldier, an Ordnance Sergeant, looked after it. This continued until the Spanish-American War in 1898.
In 1902, there was an explosion in a magazine. A magazine is where gunpowder and ammunition are stored. After this, the fort was left empty in 1905.
Governors Island Today
Governors Island used to be surrounded by mudflats. It was separate from other islands. But in 1946, it was connected to the mainland. This happened when Logan International Airport was expanded.
The old stones from Fort Winthrop were used for a new purpose. They became part of the foundation for Storrow Drive in Boston. Today, no remains of Fort Winthrop can be seen.
