Fort Totten (3)

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 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.

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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

World Wars I & II

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.

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.

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Location: Willet's Point, Queens, New York Maps & Images Lat: 40.796351 Long: -73.779252 Multi Maps from ACME Maps from Bing Maps from Google Elevation: 46'

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:

• Wikipedia
• FortTotten.org
• Bayside Historical Society

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