Fort Andrews, Massachusetts — History & Visitor Guide

Fort Andrews (Peddocks Island, Boston Harbor, Massachusetts)

Peddocks Island, Boston Harbor · Massachusetts · World War I, World War II

Quick BriefFort Andrews was created in 1897 as part of the Coast Defenses of Boston; construction began in 1898 and the fort was substantially complete by 1904. Named after Major General George Leonard Andrews, an engineer and Civil War commander, it occupied the northeast end of Peddocks Island and served as a coastal defense installation before transitioning to training and prisoner-of-war duties during the world wars.

Endicott SystemCoastal defenseOpen to visitors

History & Significance

Fort Andrews was established in 1897 as part of the Coast Defenses of Boston, with construction from 1898 to 1904. The fort honored Major General George Leonard Andrews, a Civil War engineer who assisted in constructing nearby Fort Warren.

Once active, it was manned by hundreds of soldiers whose mortars and guns controlled the southern approaches to Boston and Quincy Bay. Fort Andrews was constructed as one of many Endicott program forts, including seven in the Boston area.

After World War I, it was placed on caretaker status ('mothballed'), and by the 1930s its mortars were superseded by long-range guns at Fort Ruckman and Fort Duvall. During World War I, the fort transitioned from coastal defense to a training ground for soldiers bound for Europe.

During World War II, it served as a prisoner-of-war camp for Italian prisoners, who were employed as laborers following Italy's surrender in 1943. In 1946, Fort Andrews was decommissioned, and in the 1970s it was purchased by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Since 1996, Peddocks Island has formed part of the Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area.

Key Facts

StateMassachusetts

LocationPeddocks Island, Boston Harbor

Established1897

Decommissioned1946

War / eraWorld War I, World War II

Current statusState or National Park

Coordinates42.30166667, -70.93138889

Map

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🧳 Visiting

What you’ll see when you visit:

Early 1900s coastal defense fort with large artillery emplacements
POW camp barracks and structures from WWII Italian internment
Fortifications and gun positions overlooking Boston Harbor
Island setting accessible only by ferry within National Recreation Area

Best time to visitLate spring through early fall (May–October) offers the most pleasant weather for island visits; winter and early spring bring rough harbor conditions and colder temperatures.

Getting thereBoston Logan International Airport (BOS) is 9.2 km away; the fort is located on Peddocks Island in Boston Harbor and is accessible by ferry from downtown Boston.

From the nearest major airportBoston Logan International Airport (BOS)🚗 27 mi by road⏱️ ≈ 50 min drive

Fort Andrews (Peddocks Island, Boston Harbor, Massachusetts)

History & Significance

Key Facts

Map

🧳 Visiting

Sources

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