Fort Independence
National Register of Historic Places

Fort Independence

Boston, Suffolk County, Massachusetts
Listed
October 14, 1970
Type
Site
Period
Colonial
Ref No.
70000921

About this property

Fort Independence is a granite bastion fort that provided harbor defenses for Boston, Massachusetts, located on Castle Island. Fort Independence is one of the oldest continuously fortified sites of English origin in the United States. The first primitive fortification was called "The Castle", placed on the site in 1634. It was rebuilt twice, then replaced around 1692 with a more substantial structure known as Castle William. It was abandoned by the British during the American Revolution, but the Americans renamed it Fort Adams and then Fort Independence. The existing granite fort was constructed between 1833 and 1851. Today it is preserved as a state park and fires occasional ceremonial salutes. Fort Independence was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1970.

Location

Boston, Suffolk County, Massachusetts
42.33837, -71.01145

Categories

MILITARY
National Register nomination ›
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

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Overview
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The Land
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Geology
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LiDAR Terrain
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Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
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Finds & Access
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Literature
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Spotlight
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Points of Interest
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Timeline
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Nearby Historic Sites

Boston Young Men's Christian Association
Industrial
0.9 mi
Loring, Harrison, House
Industrial
1.1 mi
Old Harbor Reservation Parkways, Metropolitan Park System of Greater Boston
Listed
1.3 mi
Arlington Street Church
Industrial
1.6 mi
Commonwealth Pier Five
Industrial
1.7 mi

Nearby Battles

Siege of Boston — Dorchester Heights
1776Revolutionary War
1.6 mi

Questions about this property

When was Fort Independence listed on the National Register?

Fort Independence was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on October 14, 1970.

What type of historic resource is Fort Independence?

Fort Independence is classified as a site in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Fort Independence?

The period of significance for Fort Independence is recorded as the colonial era, specifically around 1643.

Can I research the history near Fort Independence?

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