Fort Burnside (Jamestown, Rhode Island)
Jamestown · Rhode Island · World War II
History & Significance
Fort Burnside was a World War II Coastal Fort first established in 1942 on Beavertail Point and named after Major General Ambrose E. Burnside, a U.S. Civil War General and Rhode Island Governor. Located at the southern tip of Conanicut Island guarding Narragansett Bay's entrance, the fort served as a critical sensor and command hub in Rhode Island's integrated coastal defense network.
The Harbor Entrance Command Post, featuring radio antennae and radar, was disguised as a farmhouse and served as the eyes and ears of a network of 3-inch and 6-inch artillery batteries extending from Point Judith to Little Compton, with fire control coordination for massive 16-inch coastal guns capable of firing 26 miles. Fort Burnside also hosted a US Navy indicator loop station for detecting submarines (Station 1H).
With the war over, Fort Burnside's guns were scrapped in 1948. From circa 1960 to 1974, part of the former Fort Burnside was used for the Naval Radio Station (NAVRADSTA) Jamestown, part of Naval Communications Station (NAVCOMMSTA) Newport, with a distinctive 600-foot radio tower.
Key Facts
Map
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🧳 Visiting
What you’ll see when you visit:
- WWII coastal defense fort with restored artillery batteries
- 6-inch and 3-inch gun emplacements overlooking Narragansett Bay
- Army-Navy Harbor Entrance Control Post and submarine detection station
- Part of Beavertail State Park with coastal walking and scenic views
Sources
- https://riparks.ri.gov/parks/beavertail.php
- https://riparks.ri.gov/History-Beavertail
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beavertail_State_Park
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harbor_Defenses_of_Narragansett_Bay
- http://fortwiki.com/Fort_Burnside
- https://fortburnside.org/
- https://jamestownhistoricalsociety.org/the-names-of-jamestown-forts/
Other Forts in Rhode Island
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