Fort at Salisbury Point

Fort at Salisbury Point was a Civil War coastal defense installation featuring nine earthwork gun positions strategically positioned at the mouth of the Merrimack River in Massachusetts. These fortifications were designed to protect the waterway and surrounding coastal region from enemy attack.

The fort was built between 1863 and 1865 under the direction of Major Charles E. Blunt from the United States Army Corps of Engineers. It was constructed at the site where an earlier Revolutionary War fortification called Fort Nichols had previously stood.

The fort served as a focal point for regional defense during the final years of the Civil War, affecting how local residents understood military operations. Its presence shaped community awareness of the broader conflict unfolding across the nation.

The site is difficult to visit today since natural erosion has completely removed all physical remains of the original fortification. Visitors interested in the location should look to nearby waterways and coastal landmarks for orientation since nothing built remains on land.

The fortification was entirely erased by natural forces, with water and erosion leaving no trace of the defensive structure behind. This makes the site difficult to recognize today, despite its historical importance at a location once defended.

GPS coordinates: 42.81905,-70.82014

Latest update: December 14, 2025 13:08