Fort Adams (Newport, Rhode Island)
Newport · Rhode Island · Multiple conflicts including War of 1812, Mexican-American War, Civil War, Spanish-American War, World War I, and World War II
History & Significance
Established on July 4, 1799, as a First System coastal fortification and named for President John Adams, the original fort was designed by Major Louis de Tousard of the United States Army Corps of Engineers. Its first commanding officer was Captain John Henry, who was later instrumental in starting the War of 1812.
After some additions in 1809, this fort mounted 17 cannon and was garrisoned during the War of 1812 by Wood's State Corps of Rhode Island militiamen, though it saw no combat action. The inadequacy of the 1799 fort prompted a comprehensive national fortification review after 1812.
The current Fort Adams was built between 1824 and 1857 under the Third System of coastal forts, designed by Brigadier General Simon Bernard, a Frenchman who had served as a military engineer under Napoleon, in the classic style of Vauban and it became the most complex fortification in the Western Hemisphere. These various defenses covered 20 acres and were designed to mount nearly 500 pieces of artillery of various calibers.
The United States Department of War was concerned about the political sympathies of residents in Maryland during the American Civil War, so the United States Naval Academy was moved in 1861 from Annapolis, Maryland, to Fort Adams. In September 1861, the academy moved to the Atlantic House Hotel in Newport, Rhode Island, and remained there for the rest of the war.
The fort remained an active military installation through the Spanish-American War, World War I, and World War II. In 1953, the U.S. Army transferred ownership of Fort Adams to the U.S. Navy.
In 1965, the fort and most of the surrounding land was given to the State of Rhode Island for use as Fort Adams State Park. In 1976, Fort Adams was declared a National Historic Landmark in recognition of its distinctive military architecture, which includes features not found in other forts of the period.
Key Facts
Map
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🧳 Visiting
What you’ll see when you visit:
- Massive granite coastal fortress with casemates and powder magazines spanning 21 acres
- Museum exhibits covering War of 1812 through World War II
- Newport's waterfront setting with views of Narragansett Bay
- Guided tours through Civil War-era fortifications and barracks
- Host site of renowned Newport Jazz and Folk Festivals
Sources
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_Adams
- https://www.legendsofamerica.com/fort-adams-rhode-island/
- https://military-history.fandom.com/wiki/Fort_Adams
- https://riparks.ri.gov/History-HistoryFortAdams
- https://www.tclf.org/landscapes/fort-adams
- https://www.visitnewportri.org/fort-adams/
Other Forts in Rhode Island
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