Fort Stevens (Hammond, Oregon, Oregon)
Hammond, Oregon · Oregon · Civil War, World War II
History & Significance
Fort Stevens was one of three forts authorized by Congress in February 1862 to defend the mouth of the Columbia River in Oregon and Washington Territory. The fort was designed to protect the river from Confederate commerce raiders, though the Civil War concluded before its completion.
The installation remained active from 1863 to 1947. Modernization began in the mid-1890s with a main gun line, new garrison buildings, and a mine depot.
On June 21–22, 1942, Japanese submarine I-25 surfaced off Fort Stevens and fired 17 shells, making it the first military installation in the contiguous United States to come under enemy fire in World War II. The attack caused minimal damage, destroying only a baseball field backstop.
After decommissioning in 1947, the grounds were transferred to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and later to the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department in 1975. Much of the fort is now preserved within Fort Stevens State Park, part of the Lewis and Clark National Historical Park, encompassing 3,700 acres with camping, beaches, trails, and a military history museum.
Key Facts
Map
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🧳 Visiting
What you’ll see when you visit:
- Civil War coastal defense fort with 80+ years of military history
- Japanese submarine attack site (1942) – first continental US military installation under enemy fire
- Historic shipwreck Peter Iredale visible on beach
- Military history museum with artifacts and exhibits
- Hiking trails through state park grounds and coastal landscape
Sources
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_Stevens_(Oregon)
- https://cdsg.org/fort-stevens/
- https://www.oregonencyclopedia.org/articles/fort_stevens/
- https://stateparks.oregon.gov/index.cfm?do=park.profile&parkId=129
- https://www.nps.gov/places/fort-stevens-state-park.htm