Fort Michie

Fort Michie was a coastal defense installation on Great Gull Island in Long Island Sound, featuring multiple gun batteries and fortified structures positioned along the shoreline. The site contained strategically arranged defensive works designed to protect the harbor and surrounding waters.

The fort was built between 1897 and 1908 as part of the Endicott Program for modernizing coastal defenses across the nation. After its military use declined, the American Museum of Natural History acquired the site in 1949 and converted it into a research facility.

The fort takes its name from First Lieutenant Dennis Michie, a military officer who pioneered the Army-Navy football game at West Point. His legacy connects military service with a sporting tradition that continues to this day.

Access to the island is restricted and controlled by the research center that now operates the site. Visitors should make inquiries ahead of time, as the location is primarily open to researchers and authorized personnel.

A standout feature was Battery J.M.K. Davis, which housed one of the most powerful artillery pieces of its era during the 1920s. This weapon represented a significant asset in the coastal defense capabilities of that period.

Inception: 1897

GPS coordinates: 41.20341,-72.11621

Latest update: December 12, 2025 09:03