Forgotten Coastal Forts That Still Guard U.S. History
- - - Forgotten Coastal Forts That Still Guard U.S. History
Edward Clark July 17, 2025 at 4:43 PM
Before radar towers and satellite surveillance, America’s shores were watched over by massive coastal forts. Some were active for over a century, while others fizzled out before they ever fired a shot. Today, many of these relics sit crumbling at the edges of the sea—abandoned, overlooked, but far from irrelevant.
Fort Mose, Florida
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More than being a fort, Fort Mose was a revolution in bricks and belief. It, founded in 1738 by formerly enslaved Africans, became the first legally recognized free Black settlement in what’s now the United States. The residents agreed to swear loyalty to the Spanish Crown in exchange for freedom.
Fort Michie, New York
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Fort Michie had an unusual housekeeping chore: alerting the nearby lighthouse to cover its glass before cannon practice. The concussion from its 16-inch guns could shatter windows. It was built in the late 1890s and manned until World War II. Now it’s a bird sanctuary and research site, where tern colonies outnumber soldiers and squawk in place of gunfire.
Fort Tyler, New York
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Today, the eroded remnants of this structure still sit offshore, ghost-like and nearly forgotten. Fort Tyler, known locally as “The Ruins,” was doomed almost from the start. Construction began in 1899 on a fragile spit off Gardiner’s Island, but storms repeatedly wiped out progress. After being deemed useless for artillerymen and ideal only for seagulls, the project was abandoned.
Fort H.G. Wright, New York
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Once, Fishers Island anchored the formidable Fort H.G. Wright—a linchpin in America’s coastal defenses. Its history stretches back to the days after the Spanish-American War, when keeping watch over Long Island Sound was a military priority. Fort Wright directed the operations of nearby outposts like Terry and Michie.
Fort Trumbull, Connecticut
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This place has gone through many phases since 1777: first defending the coast, later training Navy officers, and eventually running Cold War-era sonar programs. The original British-burned version was replaced with the granite structure that still stands today. Though once aimed at warding off privateers and British ships, it’s now a centerpiece of a state park in New London.
Fort Terry, New York
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In later decades, this structure housed biological research facilities under the USDA, which also sparked persistent public rumors of secret experiments and shadowy science. Fort Terry stood guard on Plum Island from 1897 until just after World War II. It was named after a Union general, Alfred Terry, who famously led the assault on Fort Fisher during the Civil War.
Fort Mansfield, Rhode Island
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Most of its structure has been lost to time and erosion. Originally, it only took six years to learn Fort Mansfield had a fatal design flaw: a blind spot exposed during mock battles. the fort, positioned at Watch Hill on Napatree Point, was intended to defend Long Island Sound but was quietly decommissioned in 1909.
Fort Pike, Louisiana
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Fort Pike protected New Orleans from Gulf invasions. It never saw combat but did house Seminole prisoners during Indian Removal and later served as a Confederate and then Union stronghold. After multiple hurricanes and a long stretch of neglect, the fort closed to the public in 2015.
Fort Morgan, Alabama
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At the mouth of Mobile Bay, Fort Morgan played a dramatic role in the Civil War. During the 1864 Battle of Mobile Bay, it was bombarded by Union ships, including Admiral Farragut’s fleet. The famous “Damn the torpedoes!” line? That happened just offshore. The fort later served in both World Wars.
Fort Gaines, Alabama
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Facing Fort Morgan across the bay, Fort Gaines witnessed the same 1864 battle—and its own share of shellfire. Remarkably well-preserved, the fort still has original cannons, tunnels, and a blacksmith shop. Though built in the 1820s, it remained useful through World War II.
Fort Popham, Maine
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Fort Popham may look like a fortress, but it never got to finish the job. Construction began in the 1860s at the mouth of the Kennebec River, intended to protect Maine’s shipyards. But changes in artillery tech made it outdated before it was completed. Its semicircular granite structure still stands, hauntingly incomplete. Despite never firing in battle, it remains a popular spot to explore.
Fort Massachusetts, Mississippi
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Located on Ship Island, Fort Massachusetts played a quiet but steady role during the Civil War. After changing hands between Union and Confederate forces, it served mainly as a Union prison and garrison.
Fort Preble, Maine
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Fort Preble sits just south of Portland, Maine, where it once stood watch over Casco Bay as a U.S. military stronghold. Decommissioned after World War II, the old fort now blends into the campus of Southern Maine Community College. Students pass by crumbling gun mounts and thick granite walls on their way to class.
Fort Delaware, Delaware
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Fort Delaware once held Confederate prisoners during the Civil War, nearly 13,000 at its peak. The fort’s star shape and moat gave it an imposing presence, and reenactments today bring its garrison past back to life.
Fort Wadsworth, New York
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Rising above the Narrows, Fort Wadsworth stands as one of the country’s oldest military sites. Its stone walls and scattered batteries trace a timeline from colonial outpost to Cold War stronghold. Now part of the National Park Service, the fort draws visitors with its history and sweeping lookouts across New York Harbor.
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