Castle Island

Castle Island is a peninsula in South Boston that extends into Boston Harbor and connects to the mainland. The fort sitting on this landform contains interior rooms and thick granite walls that visitors can explore.

Multiple defensive structures have stood on this site since 1634, with the current fort built between 1834 and 1851. The successive rebuilding shows how Boston's harbor protection changed over the centuries.

The fort is named after American independence fighters and represents Boston's military past for residents and visitors today. People come here to understand how this location protected the harbor during different periods.

The site is open from sunrise to sunset with a walking path that loops around the peninsula. Guided tours of the fort are available during summer months for those wanting to learn more about the structures inside.

Edgar Allan Poe wrote his famous short story 'The Cask of Amontillado' while stationed at this fort, setting the tale within these very walls. Visitors can walk through the actual rooms that inspired this dark tale.

Location: Suffolk County

Website: https://mass.gov/locations/castle-island-pleasure-bay-m-street-beach-and-carson-beach

GPS coordinates: 42.33806,-71.01111

Latest update: December 14, 2025 18:53