Fort Andrew

Fort Andrew/Gurnet Fort
Gurnet Point, Plymouth, Massachusetts
Fort Andrew's earthworks and Plymouth Light
Fort Andrew/Gurnet Fort is located in Massachusetts
Fort Andrew/Gurnet Fort
Fort Andrew/Gurnet Fort
Location in Massachusetts
Fort Andrew/Gurnet Fort is located in the United States
Fort Andrew/Gurnet Fort
Fort Andrew/Gurnet Fort
Fort Andrew/Gurnet Fort (the United States)
Coordinates42°00′19″N 70°35′58″W / 42.005172°N 70.599517°W / 42.005172; -70.599517
TypeCoastal defense
Site information
Ownerprivate
Controlled byUS Coast Guard
Open to
the public
seasonal with lighthouse
Conditionearthworks remain
Site history
Built1776
In use1776–1869
Materialsearthworks
Battles/warsAmerican Revolutionary War
War of 1812
American Civil War

Fort Andrew is a former fort built as Gurnet Fort in 1776 for the American Revolutionary War on Gurnet Point in Plymouth, Massachusetts. It became a federal fort and was rebuilt in 1808, and again in 1863 during the Civil War when it received its current name. It is named for John A. Andrew, governor of Massachusetts 1861–1866.[1] In 1863 Fort Standish was built nearby on Saquish Head. After the war, the federal government declared Fort Andrew an inactive military reservation in 1869. The reservation was sold in 1926 and mostly became private property, except for the US Coast Guard light station. A World War II fire control tower was built on the parapet of the old fort. Plymouth (Gurnet Point) lighthouse is also on Gurnet Point, and was moved inside the fort's earthworks to protect it from beach erosion in 1997–1998.[2]

  1. ^ Roberts, p. 393
  2. ^ "Massachusetts - Fort Andrew and Gurnet Fort". American Forts Network. Retrieved 16 June 2020.