Very nice location. I was able to visit for the 2025 5 boro bike tour event. Great views of the Verrazano bridge. Next time I visit SI, I will plan to explore Fort Wadsworth better. Alot of information surrounding Fort Wadsworth. read more

Fort Wadsworth - Parks Near Me - Staten Island, New York

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Before artillery and ordinance became too powerful, coastal defenses were a critical part of national war efforts to protect our young cities from naval bombardment. The Narrows dividing Upper and Lower New York Bay were the best spot to position those military efforts and the Fort Wadsworth complex on northeastern Staten Island was selected to build those primary fortifications. As we know, the British occupied New York City and Staten Island early in the Revolutionary War. The Reds were aware of the value of this locale, but did not fear the fledgling American Navy. It was not until after independence that our weak central government began to take steps to utilize the area for defense of what became our most important harbor. First sandstone, later granite, were set to allow over 200 cannon to be placed facing the lower harbor to repel invaders. The War of 1812 and the Civil War saw the most activity and growth, until Fort Wadsworth was the largest and most formidable redoubt on the Atlantic seaboard. By the early 20th Century coastal defenses were no longer relevant due to the firepower on ships and the birth of the modern Air Force. Today, the fort has been decommissioned and become part of the Gateway National Recreation Area run by the National Park Service. The 226 acres bracketing the north end of the Verrazano Bridge is now a great place to walk, explore the old naval station and see a spectacular view of Lower Manhattan from the promontory facing Upper New York Harbor that sits directly under the bridge. This whole stretch of eastern Staten Island is mostly deserted in winter, making an ideal time to visit and allow your imagination to run wild with how different this spot was earlier in our national history. I have driven over the VNB hundreds of times, remarked on the fantastic view of city and harbor from the steel span, but never realized Fort Wadsworth was there beneath me. I guess getting onto the Belt Parkway required all my attention. Now that I know and have visited its historic granite walls, I will at the very least acknowledge its stony presence and tip my cap in passing to thank all who served there in defense of our young nation. read more

Fort Wadsworth - Lower Manhattan thru Cattails - Parks Near Me - Staten Island, New York

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I've only been here during the NYC Marathon or the NYRR Staten Island Half Marathon. You get a nice view of the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge from here. It is definitely a venue that's big enough to handle all 60k people, consisting of race participants, security, and volunteers. read more

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I always loved Fort Wadsworth. It's a great place to catch your breath. The hills make for a vigorous walk, and the views are breathtaking. You always feel safe there because... active military base. It's great for doing laps on a walk or blasting your quads on a bike ride. Go. read more

A historical piece of mid-island Staten Island showcasing one of the oldest military bases in America used during the Revolutionary War. A pleasant harbor where you can view the Manhattan skyline from afar, the start and finish of the Verrazzano-Narrows bridge, and various now-defunct military installments such as the Battery Weed (4-tiered fortification used to guard the Narrows) and war cannons. Highly recommend giving this part of town a visit if you are around the Midland area and enjoy seeing historical military pieces dating back from centuries ago. read more

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I have visited New York City more than any other city in the US. Prior to my trip to Staten Island, it was the only borough I had never visited. On a rainy day on the island, I spent some time at Fort Wadsworth. Despite the crummy weather, it was well worth the visit. Since Fort Wadsworth is on the national register of historic places, there are plenty of spots where you can read about the fort as you walk around---just be prepared to walk. You'll basically make a long circle if you're trying to see it all, which I did. You'll learn all about Fort Wadsworth and how it served as a way to protect us from the potential for unwanted attacks. read more

If you like to sell your sperm to the sperm bank, then the only question is, how much are your Wadsworth? It's hard not to love Fort Wadsworth, which is in the shadow of the beautiful Verrazano Narrows Bridge. It's also the start point of the New York Marathon. It's one of the most beautiful places in all of New York City, and one of my favourite spots. I pretty much come here whenever I'm in Staten Island to try the pizza or whatever stuff Yael sends me over here for. It makes me think of my good friend Nadia and distant past memories, and I will probably always like it as much as I do. read more

I visited this fort with a walking tour group and had a great visit. It was a former United States military installation on Staten Island in New York City, situated on The Narrows which divide New York Bay into Upper and Lower halves, a natural point for defense of the Upper Bay and Manhattan beyond. Prior to closing in 1994 it claimed to be the longest continually garrisoned military installation in the United States. Today it is managed by the National Parks Service and is open to the public as part of the Gateway National Recreational Area. We were able to get a park ranger give us a tour of inside the fort which was educational and cool. Admission is free. The weather was beautiful and the views of the Verrazano bridge and water were amazing. We did see a few people walking around or sitting on benches enjoying the scenery surrounding the fort. Definitely a different and cool place to check out in NYC. read more

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After 30 years for me and 40 years for my partner, we finally made our way back to Staten Island, NY and visit this historic place. Fort Wadsworth up to the 1970s was once the oldest continually manned military installation in the country. It became a part of Gateway National Park. Section of the park supports Coast Guard families assigned to the NYC area by providing housing. During the Revolutionary War the British Army occupied Staten Island from the end of June 1776 until early December 1783. The longest occupation of any territory in America during the war. The British constructed a fort on the top of the cliff in 1776. The American Army took over the site after British evacuation and during the War of 1812 they built strong fortifications preventing any attempt by Britain to invade New York. A large stone fort called Battery Weed ( named after an officer killed in the Civil War ) was built over twenty years from 1840 to 1860. It became obsolete five years after completion at the end of the Civil War due to new powerful cannons installed onboard warships. The view of the harbor and City of New York was stunning from the cliff even on this hazy day. The Verrazano Bridge spans a section of the harbor between Fort Wadsworth and Fort Hamilton in Brooklyn. A visitor center exists but it was closed during social distancing. We witnessed some visitors and sadly one can count them with our fingers. Several tables with umbrellas were seen where one could stop for lunch. If you are in the area, it is highly recommend for a visit. read more

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I'm an NPS fan and was trying to get to all the sites in the NYC area, and from Manhattan, Fort Wadsworth seemed like the most accessible part of the Gateway National Recreation Area site and one of the only parts where we could be sure to get our NPS passports stamped. A subway ride + the Staten Island Ferry + the S51 bus to the fort, we made it! Would definitely recommend going on a beautiful, clear day because the views from the overlook are beautiful (and that was the highlight for us). One of the forts is right below the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge, and you have great views of Brooklyn and lower Manhattan. The visitors center was pretty straightforward -- a couple rooms explaining the history of the fort and protecting New York Harbor. They do have maps of the area, and the man staffing the front desk was helpful in giving us an overview of the site and directing us the right way. If you're interested in forts/military history, I'd allow an hour or two to see everything just since there's some ground to cover. We were content just reading the signs and taking in the views and calling it a day. read more

Fort Wadsworth - Panorama view from the overlook - Parks Near Me - Staten Island, New York

Beautifully maintained, historic park commanding gorgeous views of the harbor and Narrows. With a bit of energy, one can take a walk through the woods and end up at the boardwalk in South Beach. read more

Great place. 1) Was not able to visit the fort, since the tours did not start. 2) But, seeing the view of the fort and bridge was well worth it. 3) Will call ahead to see if the tour season has started - will return. read more

Fort Wadsworth - The fort! :) - Parks Near Me - Staten Island, New York

It's known to most New Yorkers as a start point for famous New York Marathon. But how many actually been to Fort Wadsworth? If you did not make it here yet, you must. If you visiting Staten Island, bus will take you from the ferry terminal straight to this historical site, and if you live on the island, it is easy to find at the end of Bay Street. Take guided tour around the fortress, or wander alone - but make sure to take in those views! You have not experienced the true grand marvel of Verrazano Narrows until you stand underneath it. Ford Wadsworth also is one of the highest viewpoints in the city, so you can see the whole span of the New York City, and some of New Jersey. In summer time, fireworks are spectacular here, and during Fleet week, parade of ships memorable as well. read more

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The kids come here to see the kids. There are goats! I wondered if anyone really visited Fort Wadsworth since it was a national park. I couldn't imagine people picnicking here or wandering the grounds. That's not really this type of place. But some come to ride through with bikes or to visit the goats along the hill (there are feeding times). The ones who are really interested take one of the free tours on the weekend or the paid lantern night tours. Tours last about two hours. Wear comfortable shoes and have a snack beforehand. This is a tour for the most dedicated as it is heavy with history and there is no quitting until the end. Our tour guide was excellent. He knew everything about battles, military defense, and what it was like back in the day. He was serious but he was also interactive, told a few jokes, and kept it interesting. My only criticism is for the grounds itself. For a center that offers tours, it is a bit dilapidated. We were advised to let the water from the water fountains run for a few seconds to clear the pipe water. Seems like they are not used much. The bathrooms are decent but with no soap. Carry your own hand sanitizer when you take this tour. Also during the walk through the dioramas and photographs you will notice that many of the pictures are missing or are hanging and ready to fall. It is also extremely dusty. Fort Wadsworth feels old but is such an important place. It is wear tennis was introduced and where New York was protected. The structure of the building was well thought out and almost castle like. A few commercials, movies, photo shoots, and shows like Boardwalk Empire have used Fort Wadsworth as a location. This definitely a tourist spot off the radar but well worth the visit. read more

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We stopped here on a whim when driving back to Brooklyn from Staten Island and were in for quite the treat that we did! You may need to show an ID at the base (security seemed pretty lax when we went) and then will be free to do some exploring. We drove towards the area just under the Verrazano bridge on the water and parked. Then we were able to walk along the wall overlooking the water, the bridge, and lower Manhattan. It was pretty spectacular to say the least! The grounds were well taken care of and there was lots of grass (and no cars) for children or pets to enjoy. You can get a great view of exiting cruise ships too which was pretty fantastic! They also bring in goats in the fall to eat back some of the vegetation between the overlook and the old fort itself which is cool to see. They'll even come up to say hello to you sometimes! We didn't check out the actual fort this time but saw that tours are available. You can get a pretty good view of it from up high and there are some signs to learn about the history. Would highly recommend a trip here for locals and tourists alike. Lots of green space to picnic or play, cool historical fort, spectacular views, and tons of sidewalks to run or walk on. read more

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Great views and an absolute must if you are riding a bike through Staten Island! Would be a fantastic place to catch July 4th fireworks!!! We initially felt that we might need to flash military identification at any time, but no one hassled us (or even talked to us now that I think on it). Great place for a picnic as well!!! PARTING THOUGHT: this would be an amazing place to throw a party! read more

Fort Wadsworth - Parks Near Me - Staten Island, New York

I was living in Staten Island (10 min away) for 15 years before I found out that civilians are allowed into this base by car or foot! It's one of my favorite spots to take my dog. Lots of different paths and the absolutely greatest view of the Verrazano bridge and the old fort from the civil war. Also a magnificent view of Manhattan. I take all my visitors here. There's even paths that go along the beach. In the fall, goats are brought in to eat the overgrowth of foliage so that's an attraction in itself. It's a must see! read more

Excellent place to go and explore with the family . Beautiful park . Great vio orlf the bringde and cony island . Also theres a lots of historical buldings around . On fleet week this os one of the best places to go picnic and watch the boats passing around also is a military facility so is very sevure army amd coast guard . read more

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Beautiful vista of the Verrazano Narrows Bridge and New York Harbor. Nice museum. Good for walking/jogging or bike riding.

Great place to bring you bike and enjoy the ride on Fort Wadsworth. Get to the top of the old Fort and follow the Verrazano Bridge a crossed the mouth of the Atlantic Ocean; and you will see Fort Hamilton over in Brooklyn. And as a add bonus you can look to your left and see lower Manhattan. read more

Fort Wadsworth - Parks Near Me - Staten Island, New York

My favorite thing to do at Fort Wadsworth (besides, of course, practicing inappropriate yoga positions, since the area is usually devoid of tourists) is stand near the memorial on the top level - if you look straight up, you can see from the lighted nuts and bolts at the base of the Verrazano, alll the way to the top crescent. If you thought you knew what "longest suspension bridge in the world" meant before, prepare to be humbled - the Fort Wadsworth angle will make you feel miniscule, for this bridge is a true architectural behemoth, and even more gorgeous when the lights come on. If you're from Staten Island, (or not) and you haven't been here yet, do yourself a favor - the view of New York City is amazing as well. read more

This is a lovely sleepy little park on the north shore of Staten Island that boasts great views of the city, a private non-paid parking lot for our vehicles and lots of greenery. It is wonderfully located next to the active military base ..... yes Staten Island DOES have military bases...... and up the street from stores, convenience markets and pizza. At any given time of the day you will see life in this park. Of course the park is closed at dusk and there are no lights. read more

FREE entrance + view that's worth a thousand bucks =unbelievable value This is my favorite formula. The view is spectacular. You get to see the majestic Manhattan skyline and the expanse of Brooklyn and New Jersey and of course, the beautiful Verazanno bridge, so close. Plus there are ruins here, drowning in trees and grass and birds. In the absence of real castles in United States, this crumbling Fort is as close to an ancient crumbling ruin as you're ever going to get. The visitor's center has a good history overview on exhibit, and friendly and helpful park rangers. I just found out about these "lantern tours" That's when a park ranger takes a group of people with flashlights inside the forts themselves, (in the evening, obviously) The inside of the forts are closed to public access, so how much cooler can this get? read more

My big bro retired from the Coast Guard this weekend, and the ceremony was held at the Fort. If you visit this location, you will have no crowd bumping into you as you take your pictures of the Verrazano Narrows Bridge, the lower Manhattan skyline and the passing ships. It is as though you have New York all to yourself. When you are done, stop by the Coast Guard building and check out the art gallery, which dons some of the best fourth grade art projects in the boroughs. If you do not get a formal tour, ask a coastie to tell you about the still visible bunkers, the gun slots, cannon hills and all of the other things you may miss if you do not investigate. This place is a New York historian's dream. It's really cool. read more

Stayed at Ford Wadsworth at the Navy Lodge. It is a nice location right under the Verrazano Bridge. The are is really clean and pretty. On base is a CGX (coast guard exchange). They do not have any fresh fruits or vegetables but they do have basic foods and clothes and such. MWR: you can get discounted tickets for shows in Manhattan. We were able to see Spider Man for half price and Traces for free. THANKS!!! (they were both great shows) I saw my first squirrel there! (we dont have squirrels where I am from) they are so cute! close to the staten island ferry (by bus) which is free btw, so take advantage of that. read more

Perched on the Eastern tip of Staten Island, an unexpected serenity awaits. You can actually lay your eyes upon a good portion of the sky unlike a lot of areas in Staten Island or elsewhere for that matter. The modern bridge juxtaposed with obsolete, military ruins is calming. As if war itself is something long gone, left in the past forevermore. It's a spectacular view and for that you can thank the environmentally friendly warm-blooded lawnmowers, the goats: Fort Wadsworth has hosted a summer herd of goats since 2007. It's currently known as Fort Wadsworth, named after general James S. Wadsworth, a wealthy lawyer who wound up getting himself and his troop lost during the Civil War in the 1864 Battle of the Wilderness which led to the death of many of the men under his leadership as well as himself eventually despite outnumbering the resistance. Considering this, it's pretty odd that this place bears his name as opposed to less embarrassing leaders. Fort Wadsworth is an interesting mix of history and nature best enjoyed by bike in my opinion. There are many stops along the bike path to rest and enjoy views. Just be careful if you explore any overgrown tunnels as poison ivy is rampant. I escaped unscathed but my partner did not... I never saw poison ivy do that to skin before. Several of the buildings behind the Fort are now occupied by military personnel including some Army Reserves. That's a nice enjoyment for them but not to worry, they won't hassle you at this peaceful place as far as I know. read more

This place is just perfect for Walking , Running, Cycling hills included.

By far one of the best places I've stumbled upon. Once passing through the guard-less gate, you will feel like you are somewhere you probably aren't supposed to be. Park near the base of the bridge and walk to the ledge... the fort will come into sight, view of the City across the way appears, then pull out your camera for some great shots. You will likely have the place to yourself, especially if you go in bad weather when the places looks best. read more

I like to ride the bike path from Miller Field into Fort Wadsworth. There are nice hills to challenge yourself and the views under the bridge are breathtaking. It's easy to take these sites for granted when you live here. I did the 5 Boro Bike Tour this year and last year and the finish line celebration is at Fort Wadsworth which is the perfect location. There is so much room for the 30,000+ riders, all the food stands and live entertainment. I definitely recommend a day trip to wander around the Fort and be a tourist in your own town! read more

Fort Wadsworth - Five boro bike tour finish line festival! - Parks Near Me - Staten Island, New York

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It's a great place!!! The view of Manhattan from the overlook is the best in the city! read more

Fort Wadsworth - Parks Near Me - Staten Island, New York

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I am almost sure there aren't many Islanders who know what beauty Fort Wadsworth has to offer. But that is alright with me, this is one of my favorite spots away for the hussle of the island. Used as a former military installation, Fort Wadsworth overlooks the harbor and now shadows the Verrazano Bridge. It's here you could take a tour of the abandoned fort which is now maintained by the National Parks Department. Even if you don't take the tour, overlooking the fort and being under the bridge is very peaceful, and sometimes windy time. If the visitors center is open, the rangers are very helpful and provide a lot of information about Fort Wadsworth. Be aware, if you're taking photos of the Verrazano, don't be surprised if rangers come by and ask to review your photos for safety precautions. read more

This has to be one of the coolest places on Staten Island. Fort Wadsworth is park of Gateway National Recreation Area and maintained by the National Park Service. Its a great park located where the Verrazzano Narrows Bridge meets Staten Island. Beautiful views of New York Harbor, a beach, and old coastal artillery batteries to explore. Great place, to walk, run, bike and just get outside. Ida, go ahead and throw a party there as drinking is permitted within Gateway! read more

Took me pretty much all of my life on Staten Island to finally visit this park and it was better than expected. The views are amazing here. You can take a tour of the fort or just wander around the paths. If you park at the bottom it's a pretty good hike up to the top. This is an active military base so watch your speed and signs posted driving around. There is a small playground near the houses for the kids to burn off some steam. read more

Best kept secret. Most NY/NJ folk pass by here daily and never know this place exist. The park is free. The views of Manhattan, Queens, Brooklyn, and NJ are awesome. Good place to watch NYC fireworks from a distance without the same crowds (though it does get packed on the 4th of July), but nothing like being on FDR. The tour of the Fort is well worth it if you can get one of those over paid lazy Park employees to perform their public duties. Even if you don't feel like dealing with big brother which is usually better, enjoy the peace and quite. On one occasion a friend of mine had the unique experience of witnessing a jumper from the Verrazano Bridge which goes through the park. Avoid this area on the NYC Marathon day, it starts here at Ft. Wadsworth. It's rumored that the Fort is haunted. read more

This is one of the best places in New York City to take your family, your date, an old friend to catch up with, or pretty much anyone. The views of Brooklyn, Manhattan, and Jersey City are spectacular. The nature is lush, yet not overgrown. You can make it to the beach, see a tour of the fort, exercise, sled in the winter, or camp. I believe this place to be unparalleled. read more

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Beautiful, clean, pleasant place for a walk. Spectacular views, perfect picnic spot. Fort is very cool.

Beautiful park, with gorgeous view. Might be one of the best views. If only the water surrounding NEw York City were bluer, and if there wasn't so much dirt in the water, this could be perfect. Nice for a few hours trip, check if the center is open, when we came here it wasn't open, although the sign clearly said it should. read more

We took our engagement photos and the views were incredible! Would definitely recommend!

Beautiful location under the south side of the Verrazano Bridge. Rarely a guard at the front gate, so one can drive around a bit and see the old fort with historical placards. One must have a military ID card to access any of the buildings and the local commissary/exchange. you can also rent multi-bedroom apts or hotel rooms on site with ID for a night or two. read more

This national park part of the Gateway system is a secret jewel of New York City absolutely amazing the views are breathtaking the campgrounds are free a perfect place to spend the day with your family read more