Medieval Impostors:
Clinton
Castle
by
Lavina Andrews and Joana Ramos
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In Battery Park next to the Ellis Island ferries on the Southern
tip of Manhattan stands Castle Clinton. It is one of five forts built in
the early 1800's by the United States to defend the New York Harbor. Castle
Clinton was originally constructed in 1811 under the name "South West Battery"
on a small island and was linked to Manhattan by a 200 ft wooden causeway
and drawbridge. However, Battery Park was soon extended with landfill to
include the castle.
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The fort is made of sandstone in a "D" shape with the round
part facing the river. To keep the fort safe, a 150 ton, 1800 ft chain
was developed in three months and linked across the Hudson River. Although
the fort had twenty-eight cannons and was an important defense during the
War of 1812 period, it never saw military action.
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In 1815 it was renamed to honor the New York governor DeWitt
Clinton. That same year, Castle Clinton was made Headquarters, U.S. Third
Military District but the Headquarters was moved to Governor's Island in
1820. The United States Army gave the castle to New York City in 1823,
and, since then, it has been many things:
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Castle Clinton was a fashionable amphitheater named "Castle
Garden" in 1824. It was renovated into a concert hall in 1845.
Between 1855 and 1890, about eight million immigrants
entered the United States through the then Emigrant Landing Depot.
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Castle Clinton was the home to many fish from 1896 to
1941 when it housed the New York City Aquarium.
Castle Clinton was designated as a National Monument in 1946
and became a part of the U.S. Department of the Interior's National Park
Service. It was restored to once more look like a stone fort.
Finally, today Castle Clinton is the ticket center for
visits to the Statue of Liberty. |
Castle Clinton
Battery Park by the South Ferry
(212) 344 - 7220
8:30 am - 5:00 pm
Sunday - Saturday (except on Christmas)
Medieval New York | Castles Main Page | Castle Clinton | Belvedere
Castle
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© Site Concept and Design: Paul Halsall created 26 Jan 1996: latest revision 15 February 2025 [CV]
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