Fort Wadsworth: A Military Fort with a Rich History
Located beneath New York’s Verrazano Narrows Bridge, Fort Wadsworth is a military fort with a rich history dating back to 1655. It was the longest continually garrisoned military installation in the US until its closure in 1994.
Early History
The area was originally inhabited by the Lenape tribe, and the first known use of the land for military purposes was in 1655 as a block house built by a Dutch settler.
American Revolution
The fort was captured by the British in 1776 and remained in their hands until the end of the war in 1783. It was used as a key point of controlling America’s most important commerce path.
War of 1812 and Civil War
The fort played a role in the coastal deterrent during the War of 1812 and served as a recruitment and training center for Union forces during the Civil War.
World War I and II
The fort was used for counter-intelligence measures during World War I and expanded into preventative areas such as air defense, anti-submarine operations, and civil defense during World War II.
Post-War Era
The construction of the Verrazano Narrows Bridge led to the eventual downfall of the fort, and it was transferred from the US Army to the National Park Service in 1972. It became part of the Gateway National Recreation Area, and its focus shifted from military operations to preserving its historical significance and providing recreational opportunities for visitors.
| Term | Definition | Example Usage |
|---|---|---|
| Garrisoned | The act of placing troops or soldiers in a particular location for a period of time. | Fort Wadsworth was the longest continually garrisoned military installation in the US until its closure in 1994. |
| Block House | A small fortification designed to provide protection to a specific area or location. | The first known use of the land for military purposes was in 1655 as a block house built by a Dutch settler. |
| Deterrent | A person, thing, or action that prevents or discourages something from happening. | The fort played a role in the coastal deterrent during the War of 1812. |
| Recruitment | The process of finding and persuading people to join an organization or cause. | The fort served as a recruitment and training center for Union forces during the Civil War. |
| Counter-intelligence | The act of gathering and analyzing information about an enemy’s plans and intentions. | The fort was used for counter-intelligence measures during World War I. |
| Anti-submarine | Related to the defense against submarines or submersibles. | The fort expanded into preventative areas such as air defense, anti-submarine operations, and civil defense during World War II. |
| Preservation | The act of saving or protecting something from destruction or loss. | The fort became part of the Gateway National Recreation Area, and its focus shifted from military operations to preserving its historical significance. |
| Recreation | The act of engaging in leisure activities or pastimes. | The fort now provides recreational opportunities for visitors, including hiking and picnicking. |
| Transfer | The act of moving something from one person or place to another. | The fort was transferred from the US Army to the National Park Service in 1972. |
Fort Wadsworth Vocabulary Quiz
Test your understanding of the vocabulary used in the passage about Fort Wadsworth!
The Use of Past Perfect Simple and Past Simple in Narratives
| Explanation |
|---|
| The past perfect simple is used to describe an action that occurred before another action in the past. It is often used in narratives to provide background information or to show the cause and effect of an action. The past simple is used to describe the main events in a narrative. In the text, the past perfect simple is used to describe the history of Fort Wadsworth before the main events, and the past simple is used to describe the main events in the fort’s history. |
Quiz
| Choose the correct sentence to complete the narrative: | |
|---|---|
| By the time the British arrived, the fort ____________________ by the Dutch settler. | had been built was built has been built built |
| The fort ____________________ by the British in 1776 and remained in their hands until the end of the war. | was captured had been captured has been captured captured |
| By the time the Civil War started, the fort ____________________ as a recruitment and training center for Union forces. | had been used was used has been used used |
| The construction of the Verrazano Narrows Bridge ____________________ to the eventual downfall of the fort. | led had led has led leads |
| In 1972, the fort ____________________ from the US Army to the National Park Service. | was transferred had been transferred has been transferred transferred |
Answer Key
| Correct Answers: |
|---|
| 1. had been built |
| 2. was captured |
| 3. had been used |
| 4. led |
| 5. was transferred |
