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Who are Forts Wadsworth and Tompkins and Battery Weed named after? Fort Wadsworth is named after Major General James S. Wadsworth, killed while commanding Union forces during the Civil War at the Battle of the Wilderness. Fort Tompkins memorializes Daniel D. Tompkins, who became Governor of New York in 1808 and oversaw the first state-built fortifications at the Narrows; Forts Richmond and Tompkins. He was later Vice President under President James Monroe. Finally, Battery Weed is named after Brigadier General Stephen H. Weed, killed during the Civil War while directing artillery fire at the Battle of Gettysburg. A pamphlet on all three of these notable Americans is available at the Fort Wadsworth Visitor Center desk. When do you give tours of Fort Wadsworth and what is the fee? Tours of Fort Tompkins are offered throughout the season, and there is no fee. You can find out more by visiting our events calendar. Can I get to Fort Wadsworth from the Staten Island Ferry? Yes. Just take the S51 bus from the ferry terminal, a distance of 3.2 miles. Can I eat or picnic at Fort Wadsworth? Unfortunately, there are no current public dining facilities at the fort. However, a public picnic area is located at Gateway's World War Veterans Park at Miller Field, off New Dorp Lane. |
Last updated: March 10, 2017