Fort Wadsworth’s Battery Bacon in the Staten Island unit of Gateway National Recreation Area
Located just south of Battery Weed at Fort Wadsworth in Gateway National Recreation Area, and under the shadow of the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge, are Battery Bacon, Battery Turnbull, and Battery Barbour. Like Battery Catlin on the north side of Battery Weed, these batteries replaced a Civil War-era gun battery known as South Cliff Battery, which was armed with nine 15-inch Rodman guns during the Civil War. The new batteries were built as part of the Endicott System of Coastal Defenses in the late 1890s and early 1900s, the fourth upgrade to U. S. coastal defenses. All three batteries are on the Fort Wadsworth Walking Tour.
Battery Bacon is the closest battery to Battery Weed. It was constructed between 1889 and 1903 and was outfitted with two M1898 3-inch rapid fire guns that were designed to fire upon swift-moving enemy destroyers and minesweepers. The battery was deactivated in 1918.
Gun emplacement at Battery Bacon on Staten Island, Gateway National Recreation Area
Battery Turnbull was built between 1902 and 1904 and remained active until 1945. It had six M1902 3-inch guns, though these were swapped with the M1903 guns at Battery Catlin in 1913. The battery was made up of three separate but identical sections.
Battery Turnbull at Fort Wadsworth on Staten Island, Gateway National Recreation Area
Located on the other side of the bridge, Battery Barbour was built in 1898, making it the oldest of the three batteries at South Cliff. It remained active until 1920. Two M1898 4.72-inch guns and two Armstrong 6-inch guns were installed. Visitors have cut a trail down to the battery if you want to get to it, but it is very overgrown. All of the batteries are nearly identical, so there is no need to bushwhack your way to Barbour when you can get a good look at batteries Bacon and Turnbull without any hassles. No guns remain at any of the batteries.
Battery Barbour at Fort Wadsworth on Staten Island, Gateway National Recreation Area
Next Stop: Battery Weed | Previous Stop: Battery Duane
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Last updated on January 1, 2025
