Fort Stevens, Military fort in Warrenton, United States
Fort Stevens is a former military site at the mouth of the Columbia where it meets the Pacific, surrounded by sand dunes and pine forest. Concrete bunkers, gun emplacements, and administrative buildings spread across several acres with walking trails and picnic spots.
The site began in 1863 during the Civil War and remained active until 1947, when coastal defense was abandoned. In June 1942, a Japanese submarine shelled the battery, making it the only mainland military post in the US to face enemy fire in World War II.
Battery remains from two world wars stand open for visitors and show the military routine of a coastal watch post. The museum holds uniforms, tools, and personal items of the soldiers who served here.
Trails in the park suit walkers and cyclists, but wheelchair users will find paved routes only in some areas. The beach with the shipwreck lies roughly 2 kilometers (1.2 miles) north of the main batteries and is reached by sand paths.
The wreck of the Peter Iredale, a British sailing ship, still rises from the sand and draws photographers at sunset. Wind and salt water have turned the rusty steel ribs dark red, and at low tide you can walk up to what remains of the hull.
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