Fort Totten Park takes its name from a Civil War-era fortress built on this peninsula in the Long Island Sound. Construction of the fort began in 1862, and in 1898 the U.S. Army named it for General Joseph Totten, who at his death was the Army's longest-serving chief engineer. Acquired from the Matinecock Indians by the Dutch in 1639, the land passed through a succession of private owners and was known as Thorne's Point, Wilkins Point, and finally Willets Point. Charles Willets purchased the property in 1829, and his house, built that same year, remains the oldest existing structure on the site. In 1857 the United States Government purchased 110 acres here for development of a fort as part of the larger defense system planned for New York Harbor. Construction of the Water Battery began in 1862 but was halted only two years later because of rapid advances in rifled artillery and fortification design. Evidence of a test shot can still be seen in one of the fort's walls. Only two tiers of the original four-tier, V-shaped design had been completed. Between 1885 and 1914, the military complex saw major improvements with the addition of nine new batteries and about 80 buildings, making it one of the most self-contained army posts in the city. The fort remained an important Army site, and advances in modern weaponry and military tactics were made by the Coast Artillery and the Engineer Depot. The Torpedo Depot focused on improving naval mines, torpedoes, and anti-aircraft technology. The first radar installation used in Anti-Aircraft Command on the East Coast was constructed there. After World War II, civilian activities began there as the U.S. Labor Department established a Jobs Corps Training Center, and the site became home to the New York Fire Department training academy and the Bayside Historical Society. In 1995 the Federal Base Closure and Realignment Commission recommended closure of the fort. After years of local community lobbying efforts, on June 13, 2005, Fort Totten Park officially opened as a public park showcasing the historic and scenic nature of the property. Historic Civil War-era fortifications and spectacular vistas greet visitors, while a 13-acre parade ground, nature center, and public pool provide recreational opportunities. Carrying on the site's military heritage, it is still home to an active Army Reserve Unit.
