Fort Michie | |
---|---|
Part of Harbor Defenses of Long Island Sound | |
Great Gull Island, Southold, New York | |
Coordinates | 41°12′08″N 72°07′07″W / 41.20222°N 72.11861°W |
Type | Coastal Defense |
Site information | |
Owner | American Museum of Natural History |
Controlled by | private |
Open to the public | by appointment |
Site history | |
Built | 1897-1908 |
Built by | United States Army |
In use | 1900-1946 |
Battles/wars | World War I World War II |
Garrison information | |
Garrison | 11th Coast Artillery Regiment |
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.