Ruins of the Torpedo Shed at Fort Wadsworth, Gateway National Recreation Area
Located within Fort Wadsworth at Gateway National Recreation Area, the Torpedo Shed was built between 1892 and 1894 for the storage of water mines, which at the time were called torpedoes. These were connected to cables and placed in the harbor; detonation was done electronically. Railroad tracks connected the building to the wharf so that when needed, the torpedoes could quickly be transported to boats that would place them in the water (they were not left in the water at all times, only during times of high alert). None were ever used.
The Torpedo Shed is on the route of the Fort Wadsworth Walking Tour, but the building caught fire and burned in the 1980s, so it is not open to the public.
Ruins of the Torpedo Shed at Fort Wadsworth, Gateway National Recreation Area
Not much remains of the Fort Wadsworth wharf built in 1850. The side road to the wharf is closed, so it is no longer possible to see it. I took the photo below in 2015.
Torpedo Wharf at Fort Wadsworth, Gateway National Recreation Area
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Last updated on January 3, 2025
