Fort Adams

Fort Adams
Newport, Rhode Island
Fort Adams on 31 August 2005
TypeCoastal artillery post
Site information
Controlled byUnited States
Site history
Built1798–1799; 1824–1857
In use1799–1824; 1841–1953
Materialsgranite, shale and brick
Garrison information
Past
commanders
Captain John Henry
Lieutenant Colonel Benjamin Kendrick Pierce
Brigadier General Robert Anderson
Colonel Henry Jackson Hunt[1]
Fort Adams
Map
Interactive map showing the location of Fort Adams
Nearest cityNewport, Rhode Island
Coordinates41°28′43″N 71°20′16″W / 41.47866°N 71.33788°W / 41.47866; -71.33788
Built1799, rebuilt 1824
ArchitectLouis de Tousard (1799), Simon Bernard and Joseph G. Totten (1824)
NRHP reference No.70000014
Significant dates
Added to NRHPJuly 28, 1970[3]
Designated NHLDDecember 8, 1976[2]
Plan of First System Fort Adams
Plan of Third System Fort Adams
Aerial view of Fort Adams
2016 view of the west front of Fort Adams. Note the Endicott-era fire control station.

Fort Adams is a former United States Army post in Newport, Rhode Island, that was established on July 4, 1799, as a First System coastal fortification, named for President John Adams, who was in office at the time. Its first commanding officer was Captain John Henry who was later instrumental in starting the War of 1812. The current Fort Adams was built between 1824 and 1857 under the Third System of coastal forts; it is part of Fort Adams State Park today.

  1. ^ Duchesneau, John T.; Troost-Cramer, Kathleen (2014). Fort Adams: A History. The History Press. ISBN 9781625850584. Retrieved 15 March 2017.
  2. ^ "Fort Adams". National Historic Landmark summary listing. National Park Service. Archived from the original on 2012-10-07. Retrieved 2008-06-29.
  3. ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. April 15, 2008.