Information
Landmark: Fort WadsworthCity: Staten Island
Country: USA New York
Continent: North America
Fort Wadsworth, Staten Island, USA New York, North America
Overview
Fort Wadsworth, perched on Staten Island’s northeastern shore, is among the nation’s oldest and most storied military sites, gazing across the Verrazzano-Narrows where the tide pulls between Upper and Lower New York Bay.For more than three hundred years, it’s stood guard over New York Harbor, watching every tide and passing ship.The site’s military story begins in 1663, when the Dutch raised a small blockhouse at the water’s edge to watch over the harbor.It was among the first European forts built here, its stone walls still rough beneath the moss.During the American Revolutionary War, people knew the fort as Flagstaff Fort, its wooden pole jutting above the stone walls.The British held it until 1783, turning it into a lookout that kept watch over every ship entering the harbor.In the early 1800s, the place took on a new name-Fort Wadsworth-honoring Brigadier General James Wadsworth, a War of 1812 veteran whose boots once echoed across its stone paths.By the mid-to-late 19th century, it joined a chain of harbor defenses guarding New York City, where cannon fire could echo across the water.Notable projects included Fort Tompkins, the long-gone Fort Richmond, and Battery Weed, whose stone walls still catch the afternoon light.Between 1885 and 1916, the Endicott Program-launched to modernize coastal defenses across the country-brought sweeping upgrades to the site, including thick concrete walls and new gun emplacements.They built massive concrete batteries, gun emplacements, and other fortified structures to hold the heavy artillery ready to repel a naval assault, the air thick with the scent of fresh cement.During both World Wars, Fort Wadsworth stood its ground, manning coastal defenses and watching the harbor with a steady eye.Through the Cold War, it served as a radar and missile site, its towers scanning the sky until the early ’90s.In 1994, the U. S. military shut down Fort Wadsworth, leaving its gates locked and the parade ground silent.The National Park Service took it over and folded it into the Gateway National Recreation Area, where the old brick walls still catch the afternoon sun.Today, it stands as a historic site, its old wooden doors open to welcome visitors.Fort Tompkins, set high on a bluff above the harbor, was built to hold rows of heavy cannons and the soldiers who manned them.Thick walls and shadowed casemates reveal the grit of 19th-century military design.Battery Weed, one of the biggest Endicott-era fortifications, carried 12-inch rifles tucked inside massive concrete gun pits that smelled faintly of damp stone.Perched on top is a historic lighthouse from 1903, its weathered walls once dark after being deactivated in 1965, brought back to life with a careful restoration in 2005.Perched on Battery Weed, Fort Wadsworth Light once cast its beam across New York Harbor, steering ships safely to shore for decades.Restoring it keeps a vital chapter of maritime history alive, like the creak of old timbers in a ship’s hull.All around the site, you can take in sweeping views of the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge, the glittering expanse of New York Harbor, and the distant Manhattan skyline, drawing sightseers and photographers alike.Historic military buildings still stand here-barracks with weathered brick walls, neat officer quarters, and sturdy support structures-some carefully restored and open for tours, offering a glimpse into the daily life of soldiers once stationed on the grounds.The Visitor Center at 120 New York Avenue features exhibits tracing the fort’s story from its 17th-century beginnings to its role in the Cold War, including weathered maps and faded photographs that bring the past to life.The center welcomes visitors Friday to Monday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., when sunlight spills through its glass doors.You can walk right in without paying a cent.The park’s open every day from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m., though you can slip through the Bay Street gate anytime, even under the glow of the midnight lamps.Getting there by car is simple-take exit 15N off the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge toward Bay Street and Fort Wadsworth, where you’ll catch a glimpse of the harbor as you drive.There aren’t many spots-by noon, most are already taken.If you’re taking public transit, hop off at the Staten Island Railway’s Grasmere station-it’s roughly an 18-minute walk to the fort, just long enough to pass a row of old brick houses.Several bus routes run through the area, with engines rumbling past every hour or so.The park has clean restrooms, shady picnic spots, and clear signs that help visitors find their way.Each November, Fort Wadsworth becomes the bustling starting line of the world‑famous New York City Marathon, where thousands of runners from around the world gather beneath crisp autumn skies.Five Boro Bike Tour: It’s also where riders cross the finish line after pedaling through all five boroughs, from Staten Island’s waterfront to the bustling streets of Manhattan.Today, Fort Wadsworth stands tall, a living reminder of more than 350 years of American military history, its weathered stone walls still echoing with the footsteps of generations.With its beautifully preserved buildings and a hillside view, it offers a chance to learn and feel the pull of history.The National Park Service runs it, welcoming visitors to trace the history of coastal defense, hear the soldiers’ stories, and take in sweeping views of one of the world’s busiest harbors, where gulls wheel above the water.
