Fort Wadsworth on Staten Island in Richmond County, New York — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

Battery Duane

Fort Wadsworth

— Gateway National Recreation Area —

Battery Duane Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Bill Coughlin, August 13, 2009

1. Battery Duane Marker

Inscription. Crumbling over time, these concrete platforms mark where large guns once guarded New York Harbor. In the late 1800s, a Glacis Mortar Battery – once located just beyond these ruins – could lob projectiles onto enemy ships entering the Narrows below, although no vessels ever dared.

Battery Duane, built here in 1895-97 as part of the Endicott Coastal Defense System, replaced the mortar battery with five 8-inch-diameter rifled guns. Mounted on “disappearing” carriages, these cannon recoiled behind this concrete wall when fired.

Within ten years, longer-range weapons outdated Battery Duane’s guns and they were removed in 1915. Today, only these broken walls remain.

Erected by National Park Service.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Forts and Castles • Military. A significant historical year for this entry is 1915.

Location. 40° 36.254′ N, 74° 3.342′ W. Marker is on Staten Island, New York, in Richmond County. It is in Fort Wadsworth. Marker is on Tompkins Street, on the right when traveling north. Marker is located in the Fort Wadsworth Unit of Gateway National Recreation Area. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Staten Island NY 10305, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Dry Moat and Counterscarp (within shouting distance

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of this marker); Fort Tompkins (within shouting distance of this marker); Battery Weed (within shouting distance of this marker); Verrazano – Narrows Bridge (within shouting distance of this marker); Defending New York Harbor (within shouting distance of this marker); Fort Wadsworth (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); South Cliff (about 400 feet away); Torpedo Building (about 500 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Staten Island.

More about this marker. The background of the marker depicts a photograph of “A ‘disappearing gun’ of the type mounted on Battery Duane.” Also on the marker are a map of Fort Wadsworth, c. 1900, showing Battery Duane and a map of Batteries built at Fort Wadsworth during the Endicott Period, 1890 – 1910.

Also see . . . Battery Duane. from Fort Wiki (Submitted on May 10, 2020, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)

Marker at Fort Wadsworth image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Bill Coughlin, August 13, 2009

2. Marker at Fort Wadsworth

The ruins of Battery Duane can be seen in this photo behind the marker.

Remains of Battery Duane image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Bill Coughlin, August 13, 2009

3. Remains of Battery Duane

Battery Duane panorama image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Larry Gertner

4. Battery Duane panorama

The remains of all five gun emplacements.

Credits. This page was last revised on January 31, 2023. It was originally submitted on August 15, 2009, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey. This page has been viewed 1,095 times since then and 51 times this year. Last updated on May 10, 2020, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on August 15, 2009, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey. 4. submitted on May 10, 2020, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York. • J. Makali Bruton was the editor who published this page.