Fort Lee (Salem, Massachusetts, Massachusetts)
Salem, Massachusetts · Massachusetts · American Revolutionary War
History & Significance
Prompted by attacks, the town of Salem voted on October 23, 1775 to block Salem harbor channel with hulks, fortify existing forts, and build Fort Lee, completed in 1776. Built in 1776, the fort is one of two military forts built in Salem, the other being Fort Pickering on Winter Island.
Located at a high point next to Fort Avenue on Salem Neck, the site is a relatively rare fortification from that period whose remains are relatively unaltered. Fort Lee saw no military action throughout the Revolutionary War and mostly served as a deterrent against British invasion of Salem Harbor.
During the War of 1812, the fort was reactivated and repaired but wasn't rebuilt like Fort Pickering was. In 1863, Fort Lee underwent minimal repairs with some changes made to accommodate four heavy guns.
In 1867, the fort was transferred to the federal government and then in 1922 it was deeded to the city of Salem and became a city park. The fort is unique because it is one of the few Revolutionary War period earthwork forts in Massachusetts that has survived relatively intact.
Key Facts
Map
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🧳 Visiting
What you’ll see when you visit:
- Five-pointed star fort earthworks from 1776 on Salem Neck
- Stone magazine building surviving from Revolutionary War period
- Modifications visible from War of 1812 and Civil War eras
- National Register of Historic Places site with strategic coastal defense history
Sources
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_Lee_(Salem,_Massachusetts)
- https://historyofmassachusetts.org/fort-lee-salem/
- https://www.preservingsalem.com/fort-lee-plan
- https://www.preservingsalem.com/the-salems-military-history
- https://www.historicsalem.org/fort-lee.html
- https://historyofmassachusetts.org/salem-willows/
Other Forts in Massachusetts
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