Fort Greene in Brooklyn in Kings County, New York — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Fort Greene Park
Revolutionary War Heritage Trail
Photographed by Bill Coughlin, November 1, 2008
1. Fort Greene Park Marker
The Prison Ship Martyrs Monument memorializes thousands of American soldiers, sailors, and civilians who died aboard British prison ships moored in Wallabout Bay (East River) from 1776 - 1783.
Erected by State of New York.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Cemeteries & Burial Sites • Forts and Castles • Parks & Recreational Areas • War, US Revolutionary. A significant historical year for this entry is 1776.
Location. 40° 41.532′ N, 73° 58.491′ W. Marker is in Brooklyn, New York, in Kings County. It is in Fort Greene. It can be reached from Washington Park, on the right when traveling south. Marker is in Fort Greene Park, just outside the museum and visitor's center. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Brooklyn NY 11201, 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: Ginkgo (here, next to this marker); Delafield Cannon (a few steps from this marker); What is a Redoubt Anyway? (a few steps from this marker); African American Heroes of the American Revolution (a few steps from this marker); Artillery of the American Revolution (a few steps from this marker); Artillery Projectiles of the American Revolution
this page online
More about this marker. The Marker features a map of New York State with Revolutionary War Heritage Trail Sites indicated. It has a caption of The Revolutionary War Heritage Trail links historic sites that tell the story of New Yorks decisive role in Americas fight for independence.
Also see . . .
1. Prison Ship Martyrs Monument. New York City Department of Parks & Recreation. (Submitted on November 2, 2008, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey.)
2. Fort Greene Park - Wikipedia.
Fort Greene Park includes part of the high ground where the Continental Army built fortifications prior to the Battle of Long Island, during the early days of the Revolutionary War. The site was chosen and construction supervised by General Nathanael Greene, and it was named Fort Putnam, after Rufus Putnam, George Washington's chief engineer. During the War of 1812, when the possibility of a British invasion of New York led to the(Submitted on May 20, 2026, by G.W.Bartlett of Hingham, Massachusetts.)re-use of the site for defense, the newly rebuilt fortification was named Fort Greene in General Greene's honor.Photographed by Bill Coughlin, November 1, 20082. Marker - Fort Greene Park
Photographed by R. C., December 6, 2008
3. Fort Greene Park Museum & Visitors Center
Marker is to the left of the entrance in this view.
Photographed by Bill Coughlin, November 1, 2008
4. 1776 - Prison Ship Martyrs Monument - 1908
The British took many prisoners of war during the Battle of Brooklyn. As they ran out of space to house the prisoners, they used decommissioned or damaged ships that were anchored nearby as floating prisons.
Photographed by Bill Coughlin, November 1, 2008
5. Prison Ship Martyrs Monument
After the Revolutionary War, the bones of patriots who died on the prison ships would occasionally wash up in Brooklyn and Long Island. These were ultimately re-interred in the crypt which today is the Prison Ship Martyrs Monument. It was constructed on land which, during the war, was part of Fort Putman.
Photographed by R. C., December 6, 2008
6. Alternate view of the tower and the urn at its top.
Photographed by R. C.
7. Fort Greene Park Missing Cannon
There appears to have been an object mounted to this platform. It could possibly have been a naval cannon. Its fate is unkown.
Photographed by R. C.
8. Entrance to the crypt where the remains reside.
Photographed by R. C.
9. Fort Greene Park Museum
Inside the museum near the monument you can discover the history of the event, the monument, and the park.
Photographed by Larry Gertner, May 6, 2018
10. "One Map of Many Moments"
Not a cannon, but a bronze plaque was here. Stolen during the bad old days, it was recently replaced by this supposedly temporary mosaic piece depicting the park.
Photographed by Larry Gertner, May 6, 2018
11. NYC Parks marker
Credits. This page was last revised on May 20, 2026. It was originally submitted on November 1, 2008, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey. This page has been viewed 3,089 times since then and 42 times this year. Last updated on May 20, 2026, by G.W.Bartlett of Hingham, Massachusetts. Photos: 1. submitted on November 1, 2008, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey. 2. submitted on November 2, 2008, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey. 3. submitted on December 31, 2008, by Ronald Claiborne of College Station, Texas. 4, 5. submitted on November 2, 2008, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey. 6, 7, 8, 9. submitted on December 31, 2008, by Ronald Claiborne of College Station, Texas. 10, 11. submitted on November 16, 2018, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.
