Another New York City War of 1812 Fort: Fort Wood, the Base of the Statue of Liberty

From Wikipedia.

Fort Wood was a Second System fort constructed from 1809-1811 as a 12-pointed star fort to mount 24 guns. It was garrisoned and abandoned several times until 1847 and expanded to eventually mount 77 guns and hold a garrison of 350.

In 1849, it became a temporary immigration station.  It was regarrisoned 18 January 1861 as the Southern states began seceding.  After the war, it was placed in caretaker status.

In 1884, it was selected to be the base for the Statue of Liberty which was erected on the fort's center and dedicated 28 October 1886.  Fort Wood was reestablished November 1886 and occupied the rest of Bedloe's Island.  In 1899 it served as a recruiting center.  During World War I it was a coastal defense fort and depot.

In 1924, Fort Wood and the Statue of Liberty became a National Monument and in 1933 was transferred to the National Park Service.

The U.S. Army abandoned the post in 1927.

During World War II, the U.S. Coast Guard maintained an observation station on Old Fort Wood statue base.  After the war, all remaining military buildings were torn down.

--Brock-Perry