Castle Williams

The waterways that connected New York City to the world also left it vulnerable to naval attack, as shown during the Revolutionary War when a British maritime force captured New York. In the early years of independence, the federal government built a series of forts in the harbor to protect the port from future attacks, including Castle Williams, which was built from 1807 to 1811. When it was completed in 1811, Castle Williams was the most visible example of force in New York Harbor, and together with Fort Jay and South Battery on Governors Island, it helped defend New York City against naval attack. New York was never attacked, but as the forts became less important to harbor and city defense, an army post grew around them. By the 1870s, Governors Island had become a major U.S. Army headquarters, and by 1930 it was home to over 3,000 soldiers, officers, and their families.

New York, New York · United States