Fort Totten in Queens in Queens County, New York — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
208 Totten Ave.
Constructed in 1887
Original uses: Officers' Mess Hall and Club for Army Engineers
Current use: Headquarters of the Bayside Historical Society
With Building 208's construction began the first major expansion here at the fort. Its first purpose was that of an officer's mess hall, costing $12,000. Nicknamed the Castle, Building 208's conspicuous design is actually a representation of the Army Corps of Engineers' insignia and the building itself is modeled after an 1841 stone library prototype at West Point. The Castle stands proudly as a rare surviving example of Gothic Revival architecture in New York City.
[Caption:]
Designing a Castle
Originally all white, Building 208 was repainted in scarlet red with bright white trim in 1901 to honor the Army Corps of Engineers' official colors. Additions, including north and south porticoes and a second-story porch at the rear, were made between 1904 and 1910. Later, Building 208 served as an officers' club, complete with a reception room, coat check, lounge, billiard room, cigar room, amusement machines, shuffleboard, and an extensive library on the second floor. The Castle was officially designated a New York City landmark on Sept. 24, 1974 and has been maintained by the Bayside Historical Society since the 1980s.
Erected by NYC
this page online
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Forts and Castles • Landmarks. In addition, it is included in the NYC Parks series list. A significant historical date for this entry is September 24, 1974.
Location. 40° 47.542′ N, 73° 46.655′ W. Marker is in Queens, New York, in Queens County. It is in Fort Totten. It is at the intersection of Totten Avenue and Weaver Avenue, on the right when traveling south on Totten Avenue. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 208 Totten Ave, Bayside NY 11359, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in New York City. It is also in the American Northeast. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region, the Western Hemisphere, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once one of the original Thirteen Colonies.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Fort Totten (within shouting distance of this marker); 207 Totten Ave. (within shouting distance of this marker); 638 Totten Ave. (within shouting distance of this marker); 422 Weaver Ave.
Credits. This page was last revised on June 19, 2025. It was originally submitted on June 19, 2025, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 182 times since then and 23 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on June 19, 2025, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.
