Fort Tilden (Queens, New York)
Queens · New York · World War I, World War II, Cold War
History & Significance
Following the Spanish-American War, the War Department identified the need for a coastal defense installation on Long Island to protect the east approach to New York Harbor and supplement fortifications already in existence, including Fort Hamilton, Fort Wadsworth, and Fort Hancock. The fort was named after Samuel J. Tilden, one-term Governor of New York State and Democratic Presidential candidate in 1876.
Initial World War I installations included a Mortar Battery of 4–12 inch mortars, Battery Fergusson with two 6-inch rapid-fire guns, and Battery Kessler with two 6-inch rapid-fire guns. In March 1921, New York became one of the first locations in the United States to be defended by 16-inch M1919 guns—the most powerful weapons in the arsenal when construction began on Battery Harris, which became operational in December 1924.
During 1941–1942, a massive concrete casemate was built to enclose the guns at Battery Harris, providing protection against air attack and containing ammunition magazines and fire control systems. After World War II, gun defenses were determined to be obsolete, and all guns were removed for scrap in 1948.
In 1950, as fear of Soviet air attack grew, a battalion of sixteen 90 mm guns was deployed and the site was renamed Site NY-43 as part of the United States' air defense system. In 1955, anti-aircraft guns were replaced by a Nike–Ajax missile site, which were converted to the nuclear-capable Nike-Hercules missile in 1958 and deactivated throughout the US in 1972. Fort Tilden remained an Army installation until the late 1970s, when it was decommissioned and turned over to the National Park Service, and made part of the Gateway National Recreation Area.
Key Facts
Map
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🧳 Visiting
What you’ll see when you visit:
- Restored coastal defense batteries and bunkers from WWI-WWII era
- Gateway National Recreation Area beaches and restored dunes
- Maritime forest habitat supporting migratory birds
- Cold War missile defense structures
- Public beach access on the Atlantic Ocean
Sources
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_Tilden
- https://catalog.archives.gov/id/75321088
- https://museum.dmna.ny.gov/forts/tilden
- https://www.loc.gov/item/ny2445/
- https://www.loc.gov/item/ny2446/
- https://www.nps.gov/gate/learn/historyculture/fort-tilden.htm
- https://www.nps.gov/articles/000/fort-tilden-visit.htm
- https://www.nps.gov/places/000/fort-tilden.htm