Fort Strong

Fort Strong occupies the northern part of Long Island in Boston Harbor, featuring concrete gun batteries and military structures that line the waterfront. The site includes multiple underground facilities and fortified positions typical of late 1800s coastal defense design.

The fort began as Camp Wightman during the Civil War in 1861 and received its current name in 1899 to honor Major General George C. Strong. Throughout the 1900s, the installation was developed further and served as a naval station before eventually being decommissioned.

The installation reflects American coastal defense design from the Endicott period, with underground passages and observation positions that demonstrate how military architecture adapted to new weapons and threats.

The site has been closed to visitors since 2014 following the removal of the connecting bridge due to safety reasons. You can view the structures from a distance in the harbor or learn about its history through Boston's museums and historical collections.

Before World War I, the fort operated a submarine mine station staffed by over a thousand soldiers to defend Boston Harbor. These underwater explosives were triggered by cable systems and represented an advanced defense technology that few visitors learn about.