Battery Humphreys in Fort Washington Park
Battery Humphreys is located between Fort Washington Park’s Group Picnic Area B4 and Group Picnic Area D1. See the Artillery Batteries web page for an interactive location map.
Construction on Battery Humphreys began in 1898, and it was operational the following year. It is one of three similar artillery batteries at Fort Washington, the other two being Battery Decatur and Battery Emory. All were outfitted with two 10-inch guns on disappearing carriages. Humphreys remained in service until 1928, at which time the guns were removed.
Disappearing guns were mounted on carriages that could be lowered below the battery walls when loaded, then raised up over the walls to be fired. The recoil from the blast sent the carriages back down to the loading position. To see a disappearing gun in action, watch the following video of a demonstration done at Battery Chamberlain in San Francisco. These are 6-inch guns, but the concept of operation is the same.
The battery was named for Major General Andrew Humphreys, Chief of U. S. Army Engineers from 1866 to 1879. While the National Park Service uses the spelling “Humphries” on its signage, this is definitely not the way to spell Andrew Humphreys’ name.
Being accessible to many picnickers, the park tries to keep the battery in serviceable condition and safe from obvious hazards. Most entrances into the battery were sealed at one time, but once a door is sealed, that is a sure-fire way to guarantee that people will tear it down to see what is inside. Nearly every battery at Fort Washington Park has doors that have been torn down. What you will find inside is absolutely nothing other than graffiti-covered walls and the stench of urine, but it is still interesting to walk around. Just be careful, because chunks of concrete have been known to fall from the ceiling.
Inside Battery Humphreys at Fort Washington Park
Doors torn down inside Battery Humphreys at Fort Washington Park
Nothing can stop a tourist from entering the batteries at Fort Washington Park
It is possible to get to the top of Battery Humphreys by walking up one of the ramps located at either end, though when I visited these were covered in weeds. Having just picked up a tick in the nearby grass, I wasn’t about to pick up any more by using the ramps. I opted for an alternative route.
From the Picnic Area D parking lot you will see what appears to be a small hill—that is the camouflaged Battery Humphreys. Batteries were covered with earth on the side facing the water for protection from incoming artillery shells and in order to hide them from view. Just walk up the hill and you’ll be at the top.
Top of Battery Humphreys batteries at Fort Washington Park
You can walk around on the top level of the battery, but you cannot get down to where the gun platforms are unless you have repelling equipment. The semi-circular pits are where the disappearing gun carriages were once mounted.
Area where Battery Humphreys’ disappearing guns were mounted, Fort Washington Park
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Last updated on November 19, 2024
