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230 Sheridan
Loop
Fort Hamilton
Brooklyn, New York
Phone: (718) 630
4349--
TTY:
The museum is dedicated to the history and evolution of New York City's harbor defenses, beginning with the construction of the earliest earthen forts and concluding with the Nike missile era. As they approach the museum, visitors are greeted by a number of visual reminders of Fort Hamilton’s critical role in the defense of New York harbor. Just outside the fort’s main gate is the largest smoothbore, muzzle-loading coastal defense gun ever built in the United States. Fort Hamilton’s 20-inch Rodman gun was first tested in 1864, and could fire a 1,080 pound projectile 4.6 miles. An exhibit within the museum details Lt. Col. Rodman’s career, and the development of the guns that bare his name. Adjacent to the visitors’ center is a 12-inch gun, reminiscent of the largest ordnance ever mounted at Fort Hamilton. Nearby Cannon Walk, which leads to the museum, features a collection of ordnance from the Second World War.
Today the Harbor Defense
Museum occupies Fort Hamilton’s caponier, a small freestanding bastion located
within the fort’s dry moat. The caponier originally mounted six flank howitzers
strategically positioned to rake the moat with cannister shot. Although most
nineteenth century fortifications had some form of flank defense, caponiers are
rare in US military architecture. Fort Hamilton’s caponier is probably the
nation’s earliest and finest example. This remarkably preserved structure has
been added to the National Register of Historic Places.
Artifacts, models,
images and dioramas detailing New York’s harbor defenses are located throughout
the museum. Among the artifacts on display is an original Pattern 1844,
24-pounder flank howitzer, ordnance models of the primary artillery pieces that
defended the harbor, and a representative collection of the projectiles they
fired. Other displays include an operating mutoscope, which provides rare moving
images of Endicott period disappearing guns and supporting mortars, a variety of
uniforms worn by New York National Guard units that were assigned to Fort
Hamilton, and an M1883 Gatling gun.
The museum also contains a collection of shoulder arms employed by the US Army since the Revolutionary War. These weapons range from a French M1763 Charleville musket, imported for use by the Continental Army, to today’s M16A1 rifle. A unique collection of over forty military miniatures stands nearby. The miniatures, which depict local troops beginning with the Burgher Guard of New Amsterdam and concluding with the forces currently stationed at Fort Hamilton, are considered to be among the finest in any American military museum.
Mon-Fri -- 10:00 am – 4:00 pm
FREE—Donations Welcomed
Directions: The Harbor Defense Museum is part of the United States Army Fort Hamilton Garrison. The main entrance to the fort is located at Fort Hamilton Parkway and 101st Street. During periods of heightened security, visitors without military identification are advised to contact the visitor center 48 hours in advance at (718) 630-4848, or visitorpass@hamilton.army.mil.
BY BUS: B-8 to 4th Avenue and 94th Street, B16 & B37 to 4th Avenue and 100th Street, or the B-63 to 4th Avenue and Shore Road. From bus stops indicated walk to 4th Avenue and 101st Street, and then east one block to Fort Hamilton Parkway.
BY TRAIN: R train to 95th Street. Walk to 4th Avenue and 101st Street, and then east one block to Fort Hamilton Parkway.
BY
CAR: Belt Parkway to Exit 2 (4th Avenue/Fort Hamilton Parkway),
take 4th Avenue and make a right onto 100th Street. Go one
block on 100th Street to Fort Hamilton Parkway and make a right. Take
Fort Hamilton Parkway one block to 101st Street.
Paul Morando--Director
Richard Cox--Museum
Technician