Located in the shadow of the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge, Fort Wadsworth is an oft-forgotten National Park gem right here on Staten Island. The Fort traces its origins to the 1660s, making it the longest continuously manned military installation in the United States, until it closed in 1994. Fort Wadsworth provides for a number of interesting and unique opportunities including birding, urban camping, goat watching, fishing, and tours of the historic fort.
Source: Wikipedia
Fort Wadsworth is operated by the National Park Service. It is one of 23 National Park sites in New York City and is part of the Gateway National Recreation Area. The Fort occupies 226 acres which includes, in addition to nature related areas, Fort Tompkins, Battery Weed, Battery Hudson, Battery Catlin, Battery Duane, a visitor’s center, and other historic buildings. A self-guided 45-minute, 1.5-mile walking tour takes visitors through the different historical sites at the Fort.
Fort Wadsworth was supposed to be the site of a massive Memorial to the American Indian, which was never built.
Source: jmazzola1 via Flickr
In addition to its historic elements, Fort Wadsworth is well suited for visitors looking for outdoor activities. One of the most unique experiences available at Fort Wadsworth is their “primitive campsites.” The campsites are available for up to six people, by reservation, and intrepid campers must provide their own tents and equipment.
If you aren’t up for becoming that one with nature, Fort Wadsworth also has locations where visitors can expand their fishing skills. Fishing requires a permit and New York State has published a pamphlet in order to help local fishermen better understand which fish are safe to eat.
Source: National Parks Service
Two of New York City’s most popular events pass through Fort Wadsworth and enable participants to explore the Fort and the adjacent Verrazano-Narrows Bridge. The New York City Marathon, which occurs every November, closes down the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge to allows runners to cross it and bring throngs of spectators to Fort Wadsworth. The second event which brings crowds of spectators to Fort Wadsworth is the TD Five Boro Bike Tour. This ride is the one time a year you can cross the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge on a bicycle. If you take part in one of these events or are coming to cheer someone on, it is a great opportunity to explore the surrounding Fort, its grounds, and everything that Fort Wadsworth has to offer.
Businesses Mentioned Above
[blankslate_pages id=”d53a0d551f29e1″ type=”card” show_photo=”true” utm_content=””][/blankslate_pages]
