Clinton Castle

Clinton Castle, (also called South West Battery and City Battery): 1807, New York County, New York. More than a dozen forts were built to defend New York Harbor at the time of the War of 1812. The Southwest Battery was constructed on the rocks off the tip of Manhattan Island between 1807 and 1811, originally known as West Battery. Although fully armed with 28 cannon and staffed, the fort never had occasion to fire upon an enemy. In 1817, the fort was renamed Castle Clinton in honor of Mayor DeWitt Clinton, Mayor of New York City. The army vacated the fort in 1821 and the structure was deeded to New York City in 1823. 1824, a restaurant and entertainment center called Castle Garden. 1840s roofed over and used as an opera house and theater until 1854. August 3, 1855 opened as an immigrant landing depot, and during the next 34 years, over 8 million people entered the United States through Castle Garden, until it was closed on April 18, 1890. December 10, 1896 reopened as the New York City Aquarium until closed in 1941. Restored by the NPS as a National Monument in 1960s.

For more information see: www.nps.gov/cacl/ (Link will opens new window.)

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