Fort Tilden Virtual Visit

Fort Tilden is located on Rockaway Beach on Long Island, New York. It was established in 1917 and slowly developed from a temporary installation to a permanent one with two batteries equipped with 6" guns (later known as Battery 220 and Battery Kessler) and one battery with 16" guns (Battery Harris). The fort was part of a network of coastal fortifications in the New York City area and New Jersey established to protect the New York Harbor and staffed by various companies of the Coast Artillery Corps.

Battery 220 was completed in 1943 as part of the modernization of the fort. It represents one of the standardized designs for a World War II-era 6" gun battery built as part of the nation’s coastal defense system. The battery’s magazine is the sole extant structure remaining and is representative of the central traverse magazine layout developed during this time period. The reinforced-concrete magazine contained storerooms, shell rooms that housed the high explosive and armor piercing ammunition, powder rooms, air compressor rooms, a chemical warfare service room and air lock for protection in the event of a chemical attack, and a latrine. In addition, there was the necessary equipment needed for the 6" guns, like fire control and data transmission systems. The armament was comprised of two Model 1903 A2 6" guns on M4 shielded barbette carriages placed on concrete firing platforms flanking the battery.

Battery Kessler, named after Col. Percy M. Kessler, was initially completed in 1923, but later modernized and made permanent in 1942. As such it represents one of the standardized designs for a World War II-era 6" gun battery built as part of the nation’s coastal defense system. The remaining structures of Battery Kessler include the reinforced-concrete magazine, which was used to store shells and powder, and one concrete firing platform. The Model 1900 6" guns at Battery Kessler were mounted on Model 1900 barbette carriages, which sat on concrete firing platforms.

Project Information

Heritage Documentation Programs (HDP) undertook Historic American Engineering Record (HAER) documentation at Fort Tilden in 2016-17. Gateway National Recreation Area (Marilou Ehrler, Chief of Cultural Resources) sponsored the project. HAER architects Dana Lockett and Ryan Pierce undertook the fieldwork and completed the measured drawings. HDP staff photographer Jarob J. Ortiz produced the large-format photographs. HAER historian Justine Christianson wrote the historical report. Ryan Pierce produced the animations from terrestrial laser scan point data and 3D models generated during the documentation project. These animations allow users to 'virtually visit' these inaccessible World War II-era gun batteries.

• 

  Animation

  Animated video of Battery 220 point cloud data

• 

  Animation

  Animated video of Battery Kessler point cloud data

• 

  HAER Documentation

  Archival documentation at the Library of Congress