Complete information about visiting Castle Clinton National Monument is now on National Park Planner!
Of all the United States military forts, none have had a more colorful life than that of Castle Clinton. It began as the Southwest Battery, a small, D-shaped fort built between 1808 and 1811 to protect New York City, then later became an opera house, an immigration station, and an aquarium. Today, it is in the Top 20 most visited National Parks in the country, but it is doubtful that one person in a hundred specifically comes to see it. The main reason for its popularity is because it is the ticket office for the Statue of Liberty. At any time of the day, there’s hardly anyone inside who didn’t initially come to buy tickets.
Visitors can learn about the history of Castle Clinton either by attending one of the daily Ranger-guided tours or by stopping at the indoor exhibit area in one of the rooms along the perimeter of the fort. In addition to the ticket office, there is also a book and souvenir store. Both are housed in small, hexagonal-shaped buildings located on the parade ground, the courtyard of a fort. These are similar to the Officers’ Quarters from the original fort.
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Last updated on November 4, 2025
