Fort Amsterdam (Manhattan, New York)
Manhattan · New York · American Revolution
History & Significance
In 1625, after much deliberation, it was decided that the best location for the fort would be at the southern tip of Manhattan Island, with the idea that it would be able to defend against any ship attempting to ascend the Hudson River. The fort was designed by Kryn Fredericksen, deputy and chief engineer of the New Netherland colony.
In 1625, the town was in desperate need of houses, so a much simpler fort was planned. It would be roughly a square of four simple brick walls, mounded over with dirt.
The Dutch West India Company sent the first African "bondsmen" to New Amsterdam. For 10 years the men worked to build the fort.
They dug up tree stumps, hauled dirt, mounded it up over the fort walls, and battered it down firmly. The fort and the island were the center of trade and the administrative headquarters for the Dutch rule of the colony of New Netherland and thereafter British rule of the Province of New York.
The fort changed hands eight times in various battles, the first episode involving Dutch Governor Peter Stuyvesant, who surrendered the fort to Richard Nicolls of England in 1664. In the 18th century, the fort was at the center of the Stamp Act riots in New York when it was used to store shipments of stamped paper brought over from England, while serving as a safe haven for a number of stamp tax collectors.
In the American Revolution, the colonists under George Washington seized the fort in 1775. During the Battle of Long Island, guns from the fort engaged British frigates starting on July 12.
Between September 2 and 14, the fort and British guns on Governors Island exchanged volleys. The British recaptured the fort along with lower Manhattan in September and were to rule New York from the fort throughout the war.
Key Facts
Map
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🧳 Visiting
What you’ll see when you visit:
- Alexander Hamilton U.S. Custom House now occupies the site with Beaux-Arts architecture
- National Museum of the American Indian offers exhibits on Native American history and culture
- Located at Manhattan's southern tip with views of Battery Park and waterfront
- Fort's 165-year colonial history spanning Dutch, English, and American rule
Sources
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_Amsterdam
- https://culturenow.org/site/fort-amsterdam
- https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=127314
- https://www.gothamcenter.org/blog/notes-on-the-planned-town-of-fort-amsterdam
- https://revolutionarywarjournal.com/fort-george-guarded-new-amsterdam-and-new-york-city-for-over-250-years/
- https://museum.dmna.ny.gov/forts/amsterdam
- https://fortamsterdam.wordpress.com/the-history/
- https://maap.columbia.edu/place/31.html
- https://www.newnetherlandinstitute.org/history-and-heritage/digital-exhibitions/a-tour-of-new-netherland/manhattan/fort-amsterdam
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Amsterdam