Battery Weed
Encyclopedia
Battery Weed is a substantial three-tiered 19th century fortification
guarding the Narrows
, the main approach from the Atlantic Ocean
to New York City
. Located on the Staten Island
waterfront on the west shore of the Narrows directly across from Fort Hamilton
and the now-destroyed Fort Lafayette
on Long Island
, the fort was intended to protect New York from attack by sea.
Originally named Fort Richmond, the trapezoidal structure was designed by General Joseph G. Totten, the U.S. Army's
Chief of Engineers
, and was built between 1845 and 1861. It was renamed for fallen Civil War
General Stephen Weed
in 1863. Fort Tompkins
was built on the bluff above Battery Weed to protect its landward face. Together, these fortifications later collectively became called Fort Wadsworth
.
In 1903, a small lighthouse
was built atop Battery Weed. Its light was visible for 14 nautical miles (25.9 km). When the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge
opened in 1965 the lighthouse became obsolete. Dark for many years, it was restored and converted to solar power by volunteers in 2005.
Fort Wadsworth was an active military base until 1994, operated by the U.S. Navy
for its final few years. In 1995, Battery Weed, along with the rest of Fort Wadsworth, was transferred to the care of the National Park Service
as part of Gateway National Recreation Area
. Battery Weed's interior is open to the public on park ranger escorted tours only, although its exterior can be viewed at all times.
Fortification
Fortifications are military constructions and buildings designed for defence in warfare and military bases. Humans have constructed defensive works for many thousands of years, in a variety of increasingly complex designs...
guarding the Narrows
The Narrows
The Narrows is the tidal strait separating the boroughs of Staten Island and Brooklyn in New York City. It connects the Upper New York Bay and Lower New York Bay and forms the principal channel by which the Hudson River empties into the Atlantic Ocean...
, the main approach from the Atlantic Ocean
Atlantic Ocean
The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's oceanic divisions. With a total area of about , it covers approximately 20% of the Earth's surface and about 26% of its water surface area...
to New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. Located on the Staten Island
Staten Island
Staten Island is a borough of New York City, New York, United States, located in the southwest part of the city. Staten Island is separated from New Jersey by the Arthur Kill and the Kill Van Kull, and from the rest of New York by New York Bay...
waterfront on the west shore of the Narrows directly across from Fort Hamilton
Fort Hamilton
Historic Fort Hamilton is located in the southwestern corner of the New York City borough of Brooklyn surrounded by the communities of Bay Ridge, Dyker Heights, and Bensonhurst, and is one of several posts that are part of the region which is headquartered by the Military District of Washington...
and the now-destroyed Fort Lafayette
Fort Lafayette
Fort Lafayette was an island coastal fortification in the Narrows of New York Harbor, built offshore from Fort Hamilton at the southern tip of what is now Bay Ridge in the New York City borough of Brooklyn...
on Long Island
Long Island
Long Island is an island located in the southeast part of the U.S. state of New York, just east of Manhattan. Stretching northeast into the Atlantic Ocean, Long Island contains four counties, two of which are boroughs of New York City , and two of which are mainly suburban...
, the fort was intended to protect New York from attack by sea.
Originally named Fort Richmond, the trapezoidal structure was designed by General Joseph G. Totten, the U.S. Army's
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
Chief of Engineers
Chief of Engineers
The Chief of Engineers commands the US Army Corps of Engineers. As a staff officer at The Pentagon, the Chief advises the Army on engineering matters and serves as the Army's topographer and the proponent for real estate and other related engineering programs....
, and was built between 1845 and 1861. It was renamed for fallen Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
General Stephen Weed
Stephen H. Weed
Stephen Hinsdale Weed was a career military officer in the United States Army. He was killed defending Little Round Top during the Battle of Gettysburg in the American Civil War.-Early life and career:...
in 1863. Fort Tompkins
Fort Tompkins
Fort Tompkins may refer to:*Fort Tompkins , a former fort in Sackets Harbor, New York*Fort Tompkins , a former fort in Buffalo, New York*Fort Tompkins , a former fort in Plattsburgh, New York...
was built on the bluff above Battery Weed to protect its landward face. Together, these fortifications later collectively became called Fort Wadsworth
Fort Wadsworth
Fort Wadsworth is a former United States military installation on Staten Island in New York City, situated on The Narrows which divide New York Bay into Upper and Lower halves, a natural point for defense of the Upper Bay and Manhattan beyond. Prior to closing in 1994 it claimed to be the longest...
.
In 1903, a small lighthouse
Fort Wadsworth Light
Fort Wadsworth Light is a 1903 lighthouse built atop Battery Weed on Staten Island in New York Harbor. The light illuminates the Narrows, the entrance to the harbor. It is located under the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge...
was built atop Battery Weed. Its light was visible for 14 nautical miles (25.9 km). When the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge
Verrazano-Narrows Bridge
The Verrazano-Narrows Bridge is a double-decked suspension bridge that connects the boroughs of Staten Island and Brooklyn in New York City at the Narrows, the reach connecting the relatively protected upper bay with the larger lower bay....
opened in 1965 the lighthouse became obsolete. Dark for many years, it was restored and converted to solar power by volunteers in 2005.
Fort Wadsworth was an active military base until 1994, operated by the U.S. Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
for its final few years. In 1995, Battery Weed, along with the rest of Fort Wadsworth, was transferred to the care of the National Park Service
National Park Service
The National Park Service is the U.S. federal agency that manages all national parks, many national monuments, and other conservation and historical properties with various title designations...
as part of Gateway National Recreation Area
Gateway National Recreation Area
Gateway National Recreation Area is a National Recreation Area in the Port of New York and New Jersey. Scattered over Brooklyn, Queens, and Staten Island, New York and Monmouth County, New Jersey, it provides recreational opportunities that are rare for a dense urban environment, including ocean...
. Battery Weed's interior is open to the public on park ranger escorted tours only, although its exterior can be viewed at all times.