Fort Ridiculous (Provincetown, Massachusetts)
Provincetown · Massachusetts · Civil War
History & Significance
Construction of two earthwork artillery batteries at Long Point began in early 1863 and was completed by December that year. The outer battery mounted three 32-pound guns with a powder magazine, while the inner battery held six guns connected by a 1,650-foot wooden walkway.
The facility included a barracks, guardhouse, and stable for the garrison. Massachusetts militia companies served rotating tours: the 12th Unattached Company (90 days, May–August 1864), the 21st Unattached Company (100 days, August–November 1864), and one-year re-enlistees mustered out in June 1865.
The batteries remained operational until abandoned in 1872 but saw no combat. Provincetown residents soon labeled the fortifications "Fort Useless" and "Fort Ridiculous," aware they were protected against an enemy that would never appear. Today, only the lighthouse and an earthen mound remain.
Key Facts
Map
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🧳 Visiting
What you’ll see when you visit:
- Eroded Civil War earthwork battery mound at Cape Cod's tip
- Long Point Light nearby
- Historic coastal defense site protecting Provincetown Harbor
- Never saw combat despite construction
Sources
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Long_Point_(Cape_Cod)
- https://provincetownindependent.org/history/2025/07/09/forts-useless-and-ridiculous/
- https://www.northamericanforts.com/East/masouth.html
- https://massachusetts.hometownlocator.com/maps/feature-map,ftc,3,fid,2042872,n,fort%20ridiculous.cfm
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Long_Point_Light
Other Forts in Massachusetts
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