Perched on Castle Island, Fort Independence is more than just a historic landmark—it’s a symbol of resilience, craftsmanship, and military strategy that has safeguarded Boston Harbor for centuries. From its granite foundations to its storied past, this fortress has witnessed wars, renovations, and the evolution of a city that grew around it. But what makes Fort Independence truly remarkable isn’t just its imposing structure; it’s the legacy of those who built, defended, and preserved it.
Today, it serves as a reminder of Boston’s rich history, inviting visitors to step back in time and explore its enduring presence.
The current structure of Fort Independence was completed in 1851, marks the eighth iteration of the fort at this location. This page focuses on the fort as it stands today on the Castle Island.
To learn more about the history of all eight versions of the fort built here, visit the History section of this website.
The above clear image came from the National Park Service.
1970s Renovations
In 1977, the former Metropolitan District Commission made significant renovations revitalizing the fort and its surrounding area. The renovations involved extensive repairs and restoration throughout the place, mainly focusing the parade ground, bastions, and bakery. Today, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and the DCR continue to maintain and beautify the Fort Independence , ensuring a welcoming and well-preserved destination for visitor. To see more images of the extensive work during the 1970 renovations, visit my gallery.
Laying The Foundation Of The Fort Independence
The original construction of the current Fort began in 1834. Using over 172,687 blocks of cut and hammered granite, Colonel Thayer took over seventeen years to complete its construction. The granite for the Fort was cut from quarries in Rockport, MA. Wooden sailing sloops that required auxiliary heavy derricks boom to load and unload the cargo were then used to bring the Granite to Boston. This journey spanned 35 to 40 nautical miles over open, treacherous ocean waters from Rockport to Boston.
Albert Baldwin Sailing Vessel
Albert Baldwin was one of many sailing vessels transporting heavy granite from Cape Anne to Boston. Note that the heavy derrick next to the boom was used to lift the bulky granite to shore, and the boat could carry up to 200 tons of granite. To read more details about Halibut Point and how granite was shipped to different projects on the East Coast, “Notes from Halibut Point”.
Sylvanus Thayer: The Engineer Behind the Fort
Born in Braintree, MA, Sylvanus Thayer is honored as “The Father of West Point,” due to his tenure at the US Military Academy from May 1817 to June 1833. After leaving West Point, Thayer dedicated the next 30 years of his career as a chief engineer in the Boston area. During this period, he oversaw the construction of Fort Warren, Fort Independence, and a Fort on Governors Island, the key defense structures for Boston Harbor.
Today, Fort Warren and Fort Independence are listed on the National Register of Historic Places, while Governors Island was incorporated into Logan Airport during its expansion in the 1920s.
Thayer remained in the Army until 1863, retiring as a brigadier general after 55 years of service. His legacy extends beyond military engineering; he bequeathed his estate to the Thayer Academy in Braintree and the Thayer School of Engineering at Dartmouth College. In 1867, Thayer donated $30,000 to establish Dartmouth’s first Engineering School, officially launched in 1871. Initially admitting just three students, the program gained recognition, earning respect from military and civilian groups. Today, Dartmouth Engineering School is listed as one of the top engineering programs in the country.
Other Internal links for more enjoyable reading:
this link will show a video and images inside the Fort;
https://fortindependence.org/gallery/
Resources used for this Article:
Castle Island and Fort Independence book by William Reid.
This book can be found at the Boston Public Library or purchased on online on amazon.com
https://www.masshist.org/object-of-the-month/objects/fort-independence-2005-06-01