 |
|
In Battery Park next to the Ellis Island ferries on the Southern tip of Manhattan stands Castle Clinton. It is one of five forts built in the early 1800's by the United States to defend the New York Harbor. Castle Clinton was originally constructed in 1811 under the name "South West Battery" on a small island and was linked to Manhattan by a 200 ft wooden causeway and drawbridge. However, Battery Park was soon extended with landfill to include the castle. |
 |
|
The fort is made of sandstone in a "D" shape with the round part facing the river. To keep the fort safe, a 150 ton, 1800 ft chain was developed in three months and linked across the Hudson River. Although the fort had twenty-eight cannons and was an important defense during the War of 1812 period, it never saw military action. |
 |
|
In 1815 it was renamed to honor the New York governor DeWitt Clinton. That same year, Castle Clinton was made Headquarters, U.S. Third Military District but the Headquarters was moved to Governor's Island in 1820. The United States Army gave the castle to New York City in 1823, and, since then, it has been many things: |
 |
|
|
 |
|
Castle Clinton was designated as a National Monument in 1946 and became a part of the U.S. Department of the Interior's National Park Service. It was restored to once more look like a stone fort. |