Fort Totten (3): Difference between revisions

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<googlemap lat="40.796351" lon="-73.779252" zoom="18" width="500" scale="yes" overview="yes" controls="large" icons="http://www.fortwiki.com/mapicons/icon{label}.png">
<googlemap lat="40.79565" lon="-73.779877" zoom="17" width="500" scale="yes" overview="yes" controls="large" icons="http://www.fortwiki.com/mapicons/icon{label}.png">
(F) 40.796609, -73.779395, {{PAGENAME}}<br>(1862-1995)
(F) 40.796609, -73.779395, {{PAGENAME}}<br>(1862-1995)
(B) 40.79472, -73.77889, [[Battery King]]<br>(1900-1935)
(B) 40.795, -73.78028, [[Battery Mahan]]<br>(1900-1918)
(B) 40.79528, -73.77944, [[Battery Graham]]<br>(1897-1918)
(B) 40.79556, -73.77833, [[Battery Sumner]]<br>(1899-1918)
(B) 40.79528, -73.78139, [[Battery Stuart]]<br>(1899-1917)
(B) 40.79583, -73.78056, [[Battery Baker]]<br>(1900-194?)
(B) 40.79528, -73.78194, [[Battery Burnes]]<br>(1904-1946)
</googlemap>
</googlemap>
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[[Category:Third System Forts]]
[[Category:Third System Forts]]
[[Category:Endicott Period Forts]]
[[Category:Endicott Period Forts]]
[[Category:Harbor Defense of Eastern New York]]
[[Category:{{PAGENAME}}]]
[[Category:{{PAGENAME}}]]
[[Category:Preserved]]
[[Category:Preserved]]
[[Category:City Park]]
[[Category:City Park]]

Revision as of 11:10, 24 March 2009

Fort Totten (3) (1862-1995) - A Third System coastal defense fort originally funded by Congress in 1857. Construction began in 1862 during the U.S. Civil War under the supervision of Col. William P. Trowbridge. Originally known as the Fort at Willet's Point (1857-1861) then as Camp Morgan (1861-1898) and finally as Fort Totten (1898-Present). Named for Maj. Gen. Joseph G. Totten, Chief Engineer of the U.S. Army. Congress approved the closing of Fort Totten in 1995.

Fort Totten (3) History

The original purpose of Fort Totten was to protect the East River approach to New York Harbor, along with Fort Schuyler, located on Throgs Neck, directly across the river.

The original Third System fortifications included an uncompleted Water Battery. Two batteries were built during the 1870's, the 16 gun Mortar Battery and the 27 Gun Battery. Additional batteries built during the Endicott Period are listed below. The fort had various support missions during World War I and World War II and, from 1954 to 1974, served as the Headquarters for 1st Region NIKE missile defense system for New York and New England.


Fort Totten (3) Endicott Period Battery (edit list)
Battery
Click on Battery links below
No. Caliber Type Mount Service Years Battery Cost Notes
Battery King 8 12" Mortar 1898-1900-1900-1935 $ 19,329 Buried
Battery Mahan 2 12" Disappearing 1898-1900-1900-1918 $ 88,535
Battery Graham 2 10" Disappearing 1896-1897-1897-1918 $ 218,037
Battery Sumner 2 8" Disappearing 1897-1899-1899-1917 $ 45,000
Battery Stuart 2 5" Balanced Pillar 1899-1900-1899-1917 $ 9,300
Battery Baker 2
2
3"
3"
Masking Parapet
Pedestal
1897-1900-1900-1920
190?-190?-1904-1945
$ 18,150
Battery Burnes 2 3" Pedestal 1903-1904-1904-1945 $ 10,000
Source: CDSG

Current Status

In 1995 Congress approved the closing of Fort Totten. In 2004, 49.5 acres was turned over to the NYC Parks Department by the National Parks Service and U.S. Defense Department. In 2005 Fort Totten Park opened to the public.


{"selectable":false,"width":"500"}

Location: Willet's Point, Queens, New York

Maps & Images

Lat: 40.796351 Long: -73.779252

Sources:

  • Roberts, Robert B., Encyclopedia of Historic Forts: The Military, Pioneer, and Trading Posts of the United States, Macmillan, New York, 1988, 10th printing, ISBN 0-02-926880-X, page 586

Links:

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Fort Totten (3) Picture Gallery

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