Harbor Defense Museum

By Justin M. Batt

Article published on: April 1, 2024 in the Army History Spring 2024 issue

Read Time: < 4 mins

Museum Feature Banner A group of people sitting on the grass in a park area, with a historical fort and bridge visible in the background under a bright blue sky.

School groups end their visit with lunch on the Bluff, overlooking the Narrows.

Nestled within the heart of Bay Ridge, Brooklyn, the Harbor Defense Museum preserves the history of New York City’s coastal defenses. The museum is part of the Army Museum Enterprise and is an annex of the West Point Museum. All activities at the museum focus on achieving the museum’s mission, which, as defined by the U.S. Army Center of Military History, is to collect, preserve, exhibit, and interpret historically significant materiel related to the history of U.S. Army Garrison Fort Hamilton and the seacoast defenses in New York.

A detailed aerial view of a fort surrounded by water, showcasing its strategic layout with various fortifications and nearby roads.

In this aerial photograph, Fort Hamilton’s large guns can be seen along the shoreline, ca. 1930.

The only Army museum in New York City, the Harbor Defense Museum has a fine collection of military artifacts. A large portion of the collection—2,838 items—originally was part of the Fort Wadsworth Military Museum on Staten Island. Established in 1966, that museum remained open until 1979, when the U.S. Army ceased operations at Fort Wadsworth. On 11 June 1980, the Harbor Defense Museum opened its doors for the first time at Fort Hamilton. About 125 artifacts are on display at any given time.

Black and white image showing the exterior of a fort's caponier with a view of the fort's wall and walkway, where several people are walking along the lower levels.

The caponier, shown here ca. 1869, was designed to defend the rear of Fort Hamilton.

A historical black and white photograph of a fort’s seacost facing wall from 1875, showing soldiers standing near the entrance.

Fort Hamilton’s seacoast-facing wall, ca. 1875

The museum is housed in the original caponier—a freestanding bastion located in the dry moat that was designed to defend the rear of the original fortification. The caponier itself, considered one of the finest examples of such a structure in the United States, is the museum’s most precious artifact. It has survived largely intact, preserving many of the fort’s original architectural elements, which have been lost elsewhere to renovations.

A historic military emplacement, with large guns and soldiers in uniform, with additional fortifications in the background.

The firing of a disappearing gun, ca. 1910

The museum’s storyline focuses on generations of harbor defenses from 1794 to 1950, as seen through the eyes of Fort Hamilton and the surrounding fortifications in the New York City area. Within this storyline is an exhibit dedicated to the Battle of Long Island (1776), which began on the grounds that Fort Hamilton sits on today.

The corner view of a historical fort building made of stone, with an arched entryway on one side.

The Harbor Defense Museum is located inside the historic caponier.

Inside the museum two people conversing while examining a large piece of artillery on display with other soldiers looking at other displays in the background.

A docent and a soldier discuss the purpose of a 24-pounder flank howitzer, which was used to defend against land-based infantry attacks.

Fort Hamilton is one of the oldest continuously serving U.S. Army installations in the country. Built between 1825 and 1831, Fort Hamilton was part of a system of fortifications erected throughout New York City. The fort is named in honor of distinguished Revolutionary War officer Maj. Gen. Alexander Hamilton. The fort had two missions. The first was to support actions against enemy warships seeking to pass through The Narrows—the primary entrance into New York City’s harbor. Its second was to defend against land-based infantry attacks. Fort Hamilton’s last gun was removed in 1948.

A military officer points to a display while interacting with soldiers in uniform inside a historical museum exhibit, with other displays visible in the background.

The sixty-first superintendent of the U.S. Military Academy, Lt. Gen. Steven W. Gilland, points out Fort Lafayette, which is located on an island in the Narrows, in a museum exhibit.

The museum is committed to providing training and educational opportunities to all soldiers of the U.S. Army, as well as other service members, veterans, and civilians. It welcomes tour groups of all kinds and offers a guided tour of the museum along with a structured classroom program, which is tailored for various grade levels. The education programs focus on the development of harbor defenses in the New York City area, a program on the history of Fort Hamilton, and an engaging presentation on the Battle of Long Island. Included in the Battle of Long Island program is a demonstration of loading and firing a flintlock musket. The tour concludes on the bluff, which provides a spectacular view of The Narrows.

Group photo of a diverse group of adults and children standing together inside a museum hallway, smiling at the camera and saluting.

Students pose for a group shot during their field trip. Many schools from the New York City area visit the museum to learn more about Fort Hamilton and the U.S. Army.

The Harbor Defense Museum is located on U.S. Army Garrison Fort Hamilton, Brooklyn, New York. Hours of operation are Tuesday–Friday, 1000–1600. The museum is free and open to the public. Although not required, scheduling an appointment is recommended before visiting the museum. Nonmilitary visitors require a valid photo ID and a visitor pass. For more information, please call 718-630-4349 or visit the museum’s website at https://history.army.mil/museums/IMCOM/fortHamilton/index.html.

Author

Justin M. Batt is the curator of the Harbor Defense Museum.