Fort Ward (Bainbridge Island, District of Columbia)
Bainbridge Island · District of Columbia
History & Significance
Originally known as Beans Point and established in 1890, Fort Ward was constructed as a coastal artillery installation to defend Puget Sound and protect the nearby Bremerton Naval Shipyard. In 1903, the Army officially designated the site as a seacoast fort and named it in honor of Colonel George H. Ward.
Four coastal artillery batteries—Nash, Warner, Thornburgh, and Vinton—were positioned with varying caliber guns and guarded an underwater minefield across Rich Passage. In the 1920s, Fort Ward was placed on inactive status, and by 1928 the fort was essentially abandoned.
Between 1935 and 1938, it served as a state-operated fresh air camp for inner-city children from Seattle. In August 1939, the U.S. Navy relocated an intercept site from Astoria, Oregon, to Fort Ward, marking the beginning of its development as a top-secret military listening post.
Rhombic antennas were installed, and the old post exchange building was converted into "Station S," where personnel worked 24 hours a day intercepting Japanese naval communications in Morse code. The U.S. Army abandoned all operations in 1958, and Washington State Parks acquired the property in 1960, establishing Fort Ward State Park. In 2011, ownership was transferred to the Bainbridge Island Metro Park & Recreation District and became Fort Ward Park.
Key Facts
Map
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🧳 Visiting
What you’ll see when you visit:
- Early 1900s gun battery emplacements and bunkers
- WWII-era radio station and training facility infrastructure
- 137-acre waterfront park with saltwater beach access
- Clam digging, birdwatching, and scuba diving opportunities
- Views across Puget Sound toward Bremerton Naval Shipyard
Sources
- https://www.historylink.org/File/9699
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_Ward_(Washington)
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_Ward_Park
- https://www.nps.gov/cwdw/index.htm
- https://www.bainbridgeisland.com/place/fort-ward-park/
Other Forts in District of Columbia
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