Fort Wadsworth Visitor Center return

Fort Wadsworth Visitor Center

NPS Photo

Quick Facts

Location:

Staten Island, NY

Fort Wadsworth remained active throughout the Cold War. Although the threat of a major city in the United States being attacked from the sea had been miniscule for decades, the looming threat of nuclear war brought about major changes in defense preparation. Nike missiles designed to intercept high-altitude bombers were located near large urban centers. Fort Wadsworth served as the Nike control center for the NYC area; the missiles could be launched from nearby Forts Tilden and Hancock. By this time, Fort Wadsworth’s value as the Guardian of the Narrows had long since passed.

Do you think nuclear weapons made the world more or less safe?

In 1973 Gateway National Recreation Area was created. While it was always intended that Fort Wadsworth be one of its primary sites, the Park Service didn’t take over until 1994. An 1876 article in Scribner’s Monthly describing a pleasant day at the fort could have been written today: “Battery after battery, trench after trench, wall after wall of solid granite are discovered in our walk down the winding paths; and, when we are tired of this warlike exhibition, we can retire to a position on the grass knolls that sweep upward from the water and view the varied expanse of land and sea, while a cool salt breeze plays about us.”
Do you think residents of New York from the 19^th century came back from their outings at Fort Wadsworth with a newfound appreciation for the security of their city?
Did your experience at Fort Wadsworth resemble the one described in Scribner’s?