Queens · NYC landmark
Fort Totten Battery
Fort Totten Park · Queens, New York City
Explore the preserved Civil War battery and waterfront park, with guided fortress tours when scheduled.
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NYFE Summary
The battery was positioned opposite Fort Schuyler to defend the approach where Long Island Sound meets the East River. Its designers planned four levels of guns. During construction, improvements in rifled artillery and ironclad warships made tall masonry defenses increasingly vulnerable, so work stopped with only two levels.
The surviving structure shows the change in military technology. Arched rooms sheltered guns and crews, while small gun openings had iron protection and shutters. The unfinished upper section records the abandoned plan. Battery access is managed separately from the surrounding park, so an interior visit depends on Parks’ announced access or guided programs.
NYFE summary from the official history and visitor sources linked below.
Plan a visit
Check the operator’s current opening, admission and access information before travelling. Historic status does not guarantee public access to every interior.
Official visitor information ↗