PARK OVERVIEW
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. By the time the National Park Service saved it from the wrecking ball in 1946, nothing remained of the original structure except for the outer walls. The fort was restored as much as possible to its 1811 appearance and reopened to the public in 1975 as Castle Clinton National Monument, restoring the name that the fort was given in 1817 to honor Dewitt Clinton, a popular New York political figure during the early 1800s.
Today, Castle Clinton 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. Its popularity is partially due to the fact that it is in a high traffic area—Battery Park at the tip of Manhattan. People passing by may stop in after being struck by its peculiar shape or because they are curious about an old fort in downtown New York. However, 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 were built to mimic the Officers’ Quarters from the original fort.
OPERATING HOURS
Castle Clinton is open daily from 7:45 AM to 5 PM, except when closed on Christmas Day. Tickets for Statue of Liberty National Monument are on sale from 8:30 AM to 3:30 PM (the ticket office will close earlier if tickets for the day sell out).
Times can always change, so before making travel plans be sure to get the latest schedule on the National Park Service’s official Operating Hours and Seasons web page for Castle Clinton National Monument.
FEES
There are no fees associated with visiting Castle Clinton.
SCHEDULING YOUR TIME
Ranger-guided tour
allow 30 minutes
Self-guided tour of the fort and exhibit area
allow 30 minutes
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Last updated on April 19, 2024