Fort Terry, Coastal defense fort on Plum Island, New York.
Fort Terry is a coastal defense fort built on Plum Island near the tip of Long Island, New York. The fortification features eleven gun batteries positioned along the shore, with underground bunkers connected by a narrow-gauge railroad system constructed in 1914.
The United States government acquired Plum Island in 1897 to establish Fort Terry as part of a defensive network protecting the eastern entrance to Long Island Sound. The installation operated as a military fortification until the mid-20th century, when its purpose shifted.
The Corchaug and Montaukett Native American tribes exchanged Plum Island for a coat, a barrel of biscuits, and 100 fishhooks before European settlement.
The site is not open to the general public today, as it functions as a research facility. Access to the island requires special authorization, though the waterfront views from nearby mainland areas allow visitors to appreciate its location.
In 1954, the military installation was repurposed as a center for animal disease research, where highly contagious pathogens are studied under strict containment. This transformation makes the site noteworthy for modern veterinary science rather than its original defensive role.
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