Fort Totten (Queens)

This article is about the military facility in Queens also called the "Fort at Willets Point". For the neighborhood, see Willets Point, Queens.
Fort Totten
Part of Coast Defenses of Eastern New York
New York City borough of Queens, New York
Fort Totten is located in New York City
Fort Totten
Fort Totten
Fort Totten is located in New York
Fort Totten
Fort Totten
Fort Totten is located in the United States
Fort Totten
Fort Totten
Coordinates40°47′31.3″N 73°46′33.9″W / 40.792028°N 73.776083°W / 40.792028; -73.776083
Site information
OwnerNew York City Department of Parks and Recreation (primarily)
Open to
the public		Civil War fort, some other activities
Site history
Built1862; 162 years ago (1862)
Built byUnited States Army Corps of Engineers
In use
  • 1862 (1862)–1974 (1974) (US Army)
  • 1974 (1974)–present (Army Reserve)
Materialsgranite
FateActive use by U.S. Army Reserve. Portions converted for use as public park. Other portions converted for use by the NYPD and FDNY.
Abandoned fortification (Endicott era batteries)[1][2]
12-inch mortars in a pit; four of these pits in a square were the "Abbot Quad" arrangement
Typical "Abbot Quad" arrangement, Battery Whitman initial design, Fort Andrews, Boston, MA
Where the guns were to be installed according to Lee's design

Fort Totten is a former active United States Army installation in the New York City borough of Queens. It is located on the north shore of Long Island.[3][4] Fort Totten is at the head of Little Neck Bay, where the East River widens to become Long Island Sound.[5] While the U.S. Army Reserve continues to maintain a presence at the fort,[6] the property is now owned by the City of New York.[7][8]

  1. ^ AbandonedNYC Print Shop Photo Keywords fort totten, Fort Totten Endicott Battery
  2. ^ Fort Totten Tour, Historic New York: The Fort Totten Tunnel Tour
  3. ^ Bayside Historical Society, Brief History of Fort Totten, 2006
  4. ^ United States War Department, Annual reports, Volume 2, Part 1, 1902, page 817
  5. ^ Federal Writers' Project, New York City Guide, Volume 1, 1939, page 572
  6. ^ Peter Jun, U.S. Army Public Affairs, "Unique Army Reserve Unit Activates With State-of-the-Art Mission", October 15, 2009
  7. ^ New York City Parks Department, "Fort Totten Park", accessed April 28, 2013
  8. ^ National Park Service, "Fort Totten Park", accessed April 28, 2013