Gardiners Point Island facts for kids
Gardiners Point Island is the small island north of Gardiners Island
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| Geography | |
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| Location | Block Island Sound |
| Coordinates | 41°08′29″N 72°08′46″W / 41.141368°N 72.146187°W |
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Gardiners Point Island is a small island in Block Island Sound, New York. It used to be home to the Gardiner Island Lighthouse and a military base called Fort Tyler.
For many years, this island was actually connected to Gardiners Island by a narrow strip of land. The area is managed by East Hampton. In 1851, the United States government bought about 14 acres of this land from the Gardiner family for $400. They built the Gardiners Point Light (a lighthouse) there, which first shone its light in 1855.
A huge winter storm in March 1888, known as the Great Blizzard of 1888, broke the land connection. This storm turned the point into a separate island forever. From 1890 to 1893, the island was getting smaller by about 10 and two-thirds feet each year due to erosion.
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Fort Tyler: A Military Outpost
During the Spanish–American War, the United States government decided to build a fort on Gardiners Point Island. This fort was named Fort Tyler. It was part of a plan to protect the coast of Long Island Sound.
Building the Fort
The government spent $500,000 to build Fort Tyler. They first set up a temporary battery, which is a group of cannons, for $77,100. This temporary battery had two large 8-inch guns. These guns were placed on older carriages from the 1870s. This was done quickly because people worried that the Spanish navy might attack the U.S. east coast.
Records show that the platforms for the guns were ready, but it's not clear if the guns were actually put in place.
Naming Fort Tyler
There are two ideas about who Fort Tyler was named after. One story says it was named for Daniel Tyler, a general who fought in the American Civil War and passed away in 1882. Another story suggests it was named after former U.S. President John Tyler (who was president from 1841 to 1845). President Tyler married Julia Gardiner Tyler, who was born on Gardiners Island.
The Permanent Fort
The permanent Fort Tyler was supposed to have a section called Battery Edmund Smith. This section would hold two 8-inch guns that could disappear (meaning they could be lowered out of sight after firing). It also planned for two 5-inch guns on stands. However, records indicate that these guns were never actually placed at the fort.
Fort Tyler was unusual because it seemed to be built mainly out of fear during the war. Most forts from that time were planned much earlier and were already being built when the war started.
Abandonment and Later Uses
The island's shifting sands caused ongoing problems for Fort Tyler. The fort was finally abandoned in 1924. After World War I, many coastal defenses were reduced, and the fort was given to New York State.
In 1938, President Franklin D. Roosevelt declared the island a National Bird Refuge. It was then transferred to the Agriculture Department.
During World War II, the fort was used for bombing practice. This, along with natural erosion, has left the fort in its current state. Today, it's often called "The Ruins."
Protecting the Island
In September 1971, a politician named Otis G. Pike suggested a bill. This bill would have made Gardiners Point Island, along with historic Gardiners Island, Cartwright Island, Hicks Island, and 1000 acres of the nearby Long Island shore, into a national monument.
New York State briefly thought about turning Gardiners Point Island into a park. However, it's considered dangerous for boats because there might be unexploded ordnance (old bombs or shells) still on the island. Today, Gardiners Point Island is part of the Long Island National Wildlife Refuge Complex, which helps protect wildlife.
Images for kids
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Gardiners Point Island is the small island north of Gardiners Island on this map from 1904.
