Fort Kearny

Fort Kearny is a military installation in Saunderstown on Rhode Island's coast with defensive structures built from adobe and wooden materials. The grounds contain several gun emplacements and bastion-style structures arranged to cover the bay approaches and shipping channels.

The fort was built in 1908 as part of an effort to strengthen coastal defenses along Narragansett Bay and protect shipping routes. It was constructed during a period when the United States was expanding and modernizing its network of coastal military positions.

The fort reflects early 20th century ideas about how to defend coastal areas, with its design built specifically to protect shipping and harbor access. Walking through the grounds shows how military engineers of that era thought about safeguarding a busy bay from threats.

The grounds are accessible from Saunderstown's main roads with parking available near the entrance for visitors. Walking through the site gives you a full sense of the layout and allows views across the bay from various defensive positions.

The fort sits on a peninsula with an open view across all of Narragansett Bay, making it a powerful lookout point for watching ship movements during its active years. This geography remains obvious to visitors today and helps explain why this exact location was chosen for the defenses.

Location: Saunderstown

Inception: 1908

GPS coordinates: 41.49056,-71.42278

Latest update: December 14, 2025 11:02