Welcome to DigiNewYork

The New York visitor resource.
New York attractions, maps and history all in one place.
This site features Google Earth and Google Maps.

Please feel free to add your own location


Castle Clinton

Castle Clinton or Fort Clinton is a circular sandstone fort and national monument in Battery Park at the southern tip of Manhattan, New York City.

Construction began in 1808 and was completed in 1811 on an island known as West Battery (sometimes South-west Battery), and was designed by architects John McComb Jr. and Jonathan Williams.

West Battery was intended to complement Fort Williams on Governors Island, which was East Battery to defend New York City from English forces in the tensions that marked the run-up to the War of 1812, but never saw action in that or any war. Subsequent landfill expanded Battery Park, and placed the fort on the mainland of Manhattan Island.

During its tenure for non-military uses, it was extensively altered and roofed over to a height of several stories, though the original masonry fort remained. After the aquarium was ousted, most of the added structure was removed by the city's Park Commissoner Robert Moses in a failed and controversial attempt to demolish the structure in order to develop a bridge.


Tag this location on del.icio.us
Mail this location to a friend



Comments

Add Comment

:

:
:




Text Link Ads

Copyright 2006/ 08 | Lee Rickler and all relevant companies
No reproduction whatsoever without prior written agreement
DigiNewYork is not affiliated to Google.
Back to top