RT Fort Independence

Granite bastion fort that provided harbor defenses for Boston is one of the oldest continuously fortified sites of English origin in the United States

General Information

Hours:

Fort grounds: Daily, dawn to dusk
Fort interior: Seasonally, typically late spring through fall during guided tours

Fees:

Free admission

Pet Policy:

Dogs are allowed on Castle Island grounds when kept on a leash; pets are not permitted inside the fort

Closest cities with hotels:

South Boston / Downtown Boston

Seasons:

All year; late spring through early fall is best for walking the waterfront and attending guided tours

Location:

https://maps.app.goo.gl/9qZKzvWZpZbQz5rR9 Castle Island, Boston, MA 02127

Website:

nps.gov/bost/fort-independence

How to Get There

From Downtown Boston hotels: Drive or take public transit toward South Boston, follow William J. Day Boulevard along the waterfront, and continue onto Castle Island, where Fort Independence is located at the end of the peninsula overlooking Boston Harbor.

Overview

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, called "The Castle", was placed on the site in 1634 and, after two re-buildings, replaced circa 1692 with a more substantial structure known as Castle William. Re-built after it was abandoned by the British during the American Revolution, Castle William was renamed 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.

This article uses material from the Wikipedia article "Fort Independence (Massachusetts)", which is released under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share-Alike License 3.0