Fort Michie

Fort Michie
Part of Harbor Defenses of Long Island Sound
Great Gull Island, Southold, New York
Fort Michie is located in New York
Fort Michie
Fort Michie
Location in New York
Coordinates41°12′08″N 72°07′07″W / 41.20222°N 72.11861°W / 41.20222; -72.11861
TypeCoastal Defense
Site information
OwnerAmerican Museum of Natural History
Controlled byprivate
Open to
the public
by appointment
Site history
Built1897-1908
Built byUnited States Army
In use1900-1946
Battles/warsWorld War I
World War II
Garrison information
Garrison11th Coast Artillery Regiment
Abandoned gun pit for the unique 16-inch disappearing gun at Fort Michie.

Fort Michie was a United States Army coastal defense site on Great Gull Island, New York. Along with Fort H. G. Wright, Fort Terry, and Camp Hero, it defended the eastern entrance to Long Island Sound as part of the Harbor Defenses of Long Island Sound, thus defending Connecticut's ports and the north shore of Long Island.[1]

The fort was named after First Lieutenant Dennis Michie, who was killed at San Juan Hill during the Spanish–American War. Michie is also known for being the first person to bring football to the United States Military Academy by organizing the first Army-Navy game, where the football stadium is also named after him.[2]

The fort was first developed at the turn of the 20th century and was active in World War I and World War II. After World War II it was deactivated as a coast defense fort.[3] Since the 1950s the island has been used by the American Museum of Natural History to study migratory terns.

  1. ^ Berhow, p. 208
  2. ^ Ginzburg, Ralph (1994-07-24). "Rare Terns Flourishing On Tiny Isle". New York Times. Retrieved 2009-09-05.
  3. ^ Fort Michie at FortWiki.com