National Register of Historic Places

Fort Tilden Historic District

New York, Queens County, New York
Listed
April 19, 1984
Type
District
Period
Early Republic
Ref No.
84002917

About this property

Fort Tilden, also known as Fort Tilden Historic District, is a former United States Army installation on the coast in the New York City borough of Queens. Fort Tilden now forms part of the Gateway National Recreation Area, and is administered by the National Park Service. Fort Tilden Historic District is located on the Rockaway Peninsula, between Jacob Riis Park to the east and Breezy Point Tip to the west. All three of these sites are operated by the National Park Service. Since its decommissioning, the former installation has largely become a natural area of beaches, dunes and maritime forest. Most of the old military installations are abandoned, and military structures which formerly housed artillery (batteries) and ammunition (magazines) are covered in graffiti. A few buildings have been renovated and are used by local arts groups, and some large open areas are used as sports grounds. Atop one of the old batteries, Battery Harris East, a viewing platform has 360-degree views that include the city, New York Harbor, and the Atlantic Ocean. The wilder parts of Fort Tilden are popular with bird-watchers and other nature-lovers, and the beach areas are frequently used for fishing.

Location

New York, Queens County, New York
40.56553, -73.89275

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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Everything a full report reveals about Fort Tilden Historic District

This page lists Fort Tilden Historic District. A full Aubrey report for an address near it pulls together this listing alongside battlefield records, land patents, and every other historical record within a chosen radius:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
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
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
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Nearby Historic Sites

Jacob Riis Park Historic District
Listed
1.1 mi
Floyd Bennett Field Historic District
Listed
1.7 mi
Manhattan Beach Jewish Center
Industrial
3.4 mi
Lott, Hendrick I., House
Industrial
3.7 mi
Jewish Center of Coney Island, The
Industrial
4 mi

Nearby Battles

Battle of Long Island (Brooklyn Heights)
1776Revolutionary War
6.6 mi
Battle of Long Island — Battle Pass
1776Revolutionary War
6.6 mi
Battle of Long Island — Flanking at Jamaica Pass
1776Revolutionary War
7 mi
Battle of Long Island — Jamaica Pass Flanking
1776Revolutionary War
7.1 mi
Battle of Long Island — Gowanus Heights
1776Revolutionary War
7.2 mi

Questions about this property

When was Fort Tilden Historic District listed on the National Register?

Fort Tilden Historic District was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on April 19, 1984.

What type of historic resource is Fort Tilden Historic District?

Fort Tilden Historic District is classified as a district in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Fort Tilden Historic District?

The period of significance for Fort Tilden Historic District is recorded as the early_republic era.

Can I research the history near Fort Tilden Historic District?

Yes. Aubrey Research reports search National Register listings, battlefield records, land patents, and other primary historical sources within any radius of a US address. A report for an address near Fort Tilden Historic District will include this listing and all other historical records in the area.

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