Newport in Newport County, Rhode Island — The American Northeast (New England)
Fort Adams
History you can Touch
Explore the casemates where the big guns once roared.
Discover how 8 soldiers worked together to load and fire each cannon.
Step into the quarters where the soldiers and their families lived.
Ascend to the scenic overlook for a breathtaking view of Narragansett Bay and Newport Harbor.
Stroll the 6½ acre parade field and the maze of the defensive outerworks.
Enter . . . if you dare . . . one of the listening tunnels beneath the walls of the fort.
A National Historic Landmark & Official Project of Save America’s Treasures
During the 19th century, the defense of key cities and harbors along coastlines of the United States depended on an extensive system of coastal fortifications. Forts were built from Maine to Florida to protect the homeland from foreign naval powers. Fort Adams, completed in 1857 and named in honor of President John Adams, was one of the largest and most complex of these magnificent structures and is a superlative example of military engineering. Designed for 468 cannon and 2400 troops, the fort’s massive walls and outerworks spread over twenty acres and incorporated elements of the art of fortification that are unmatched in the United States. Fort Adams, largely unaltered over the years, still stands today symbolically guarding Narragansett Bay and Newport Harbor.
Erected by Fort Adams State Park.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Forts and Castles. A significant historical year for this entry is 1857.
Location. 41° 28.814′ N, 71° 20.23′ W. Marker is in Newport, Rhode Island, in Newport County. Marker can be reached from Fort Adams Drive, on the left when traveling north. Marker is located in Fort Adams State Park, near the north entry to the fort. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Newport RI 02840, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Defending Narragansett Bay (within shouting distance of this marker); The Irish Connection to Fort Adams (within shouting distance of this marker); Going Great Guns (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named Defending Narragansett Bay (within shouting distance of this marker); Returning Old Glory 2001 (within shouting distance of this marker); Bay Islands Park (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Boats of the Bay (about 300 feet away); Life in Fort Adams (about 400 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Newport.
More about this marker. The background of the marker features an aerial picture of Fort Adams. Also present are several photographs from inside Fort Adams, and a newspaper article requesting bricks for construction of the fort.
Credits. This page was last revised on November 2, 2020. It was originally submitted on October 13, 2011, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey. This page has been viewed 536 times since then and 28 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on October 13, 2011, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey.