Fort Mansfield

Fort Mansfield is a coastal fortification in Watch Hill with concrete gun batteries, underground magazines, and defensive structures built into the rocky terrain at Napatree Point. The installation displays early 1900s military construction techniques through its various shelters and weapon emplacements positioned to overlook the shoreline.

The fort was built in 1901 by the US Army as part of a coastal defense system for Long Island Sound against potential naval attacks. After World War One, the fortification lost strategic importance and was gradually abandoned.

The fort exemplifies the military engineering standards of the early 1900s through its strategic placement and architectural design choices for coastal protection.

The fort is reached through Napatree Point Conservation Area by following a sandy beach trail that extends roughly one and a half kilometers. The walk is relatively level but the sandy ground can be tiring, especially on warm days.

Three separate concrete gun emplacements named Battery Wooster, Battery Crawford, and Battery Connell formed the main defensive positions of the installation. These individual batteries were spaced apart to prevent destruction from a single hit.