Fort Lafayette

Fort Lafayette occupied a rocky island in New York Harbor positioned between Staten Island and Brooklyn, built as a multi-tiered defensive structure. The octagonal design housed numerous casemates with small openings that allowed minimal daylight into the interior spaces.

Construction began during the War of 1812 and the fort was completed in 1822 to defend New York Harbor from invasion. During the Civil War, it shifted from military post to prison facility.

The fort's name honors a French general who backed American independence, connecting the site to Franco-American bonds of the era. Today, this naming choice still reflects the gratitude colonists felt toward their international ally.

The island location meant access required water transport, which restricted visitor traffic to the site. The interior spaces were compact with dim lighting conditions, so sturdy footwear and careful navigation were necessary when exploring inside.

Francis Key Howard, grandson of the author of the national anthem, was held here for publicly criticizing President Lincoln's wartime policies. His imprisonment reveals how the fortress served broader political purposes beyond traditional military defense.