Harbor Defense Museum
The Fort Hamilton Historical Society 
Fort Hamilton
Brooklyn, NY 11252-5335
(718) 630-4349
www.harbordefensemuseum.com

The Harbor Defense Museum is the starting point for a 90 minute tour of historic Fort Hamilton. With a mission of coastal defense, the Fort's construction began in 1825. At maximum strength, the Fort was armed with large batteries of heavy cannon, rapid fire guns, and mortars. The Museum exhibits tell the story of the generations of guns, mines, airplanes, and missiles which have protected the harbor.

The area of the Narrows is rich in military history. On July 4, 1776 a small American gunboat took on a British war ship, inflicting damage and casualties. Though the gunboat was eventually silenced, the action was typical of the courage and determination displayed by our forefathers in creating this great nation.

The Revolutionary War's Battle of Long Island in the Revolution began here in August of 1776.

Later, in 1840, Robert E. Lee served at Fort Hamilton, and his house there still remains.

There is much to be learned on a tour of the Fort, where visitors will see the places of historic events. While many of the original structures are gone, some having yielded to the construction of the Verrazano Narrows Bridge, it is easy to look out across the water and envision the battles that took place.