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

Torpedo Building

Gateway National Recreation Area, Fort Wadsworth

— National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior —

Torpedo Building wayside image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Larry Gertner, May 11, 2008

1. Torpedo Building wayside

Main illustration – “Battery Weed, the Torpedo Building, and related structures, c. 1920”

Inscription.
This structure, built from 1892-94, once held the key to New York Harbor’s defense. In the late 1800s, military engineers developed “torpedoes” – actually “mines” in current military terms – that could be exploded electrically from shore positions like Battery Weed behind you. New York’s torpedoes and their miles of cable were not permanently wired in place but stored here until needed.

These tracks connected the 323-foot by 42 foot Torpedo Building and the nearby cable storage tanks to the wharf. If New York was threatened, small rail cars could quickly transport the torpedoes and cables to specialized vessels ready to stretch them across the narrows. The Army tested this system in the late 1890s, but removed the torpedoes and cables in 1899.

Erected by National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Forts and Castles. A significant historical year for this entry is 1899.

Location. 40° 36.331′ N, 74° 3.294′ W. Marker is on Staten Island, New York, in Richmond County. It is in Fort Wadsworth. It can be reached from South Weed Road. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: Fort Wadsworth - Gateway National Park, Staten Island NY 10305, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in New York City.

It is also in the American Mid-Atlantic.

Globally, it is in North America

and the Western World.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once one of the original Thirteen Colonies.

Other nearby markers. At least

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8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Battery Weed (within shouting distance of this marker); Torpedo Wharf (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Defending New York Harbor (about 300 feet away); Fort Wadsworth (about 300 feet away); a different marker also named Battery Weed (about 300 feet away); Fort Tompkins (about 300 feet away); Verrazano – Narrows Bridge (about 300 feet away); Battery Catlin (about 500 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Staten Island.

Another marker is no longer nearby. Historic Fort Wadsworth (was about 400 feet away but has been confirmed missing).

Also see . . . "Military Railroads of the New York Metropolitan Area". A brief look at the rail layout. (Submitted on August 12, 2020, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)

Torpedo Building ruins image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Larry Gertner, May 11, 2008

2. Torpedo Building ruins

The building burned in the 1980s.

Photographed by Larry Gertner, February 12, 2006

3. Torpedo Building ruins

Torpedo Building and transport rails. image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Larry Gertner, July 31, 2013

4. Torpedo Building and transport rails.

plus an M-149 Trailer, Water, 400 gallon (Water Buffalo)

Credits. This page was last revised on January 31, 2023. It was originally submitted on August 12, 2020, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York. This page has been viewed 2,979 times since then and 242 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on August 12, 2020, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.