Washington Forts

American Forts: West

WASHINGTON

Last Update: 01/JULY/2007

Compiled by Phil and Pete Payette - ฉ2007 American Forts Network

Nu๑ez Gaona
(1791 - 1792), Neah Bay
A fortified Spanish settlement that lasted only five months. This was the first white settlement in the state. Site located just north of the main part of town.

ค HARBOR DEFENSES of CAPE FLATTERY

ค Fort Hayden (Cape Flattery Military Reservation)
(Makah Indian Reservation)
(1941 - 1943), Cape Flattery, near Neah Bay
Batteries planned here were Battery 132, Battery 133, Battery 250 on Kaitlah Point, and Battery 251. Construction was started on all of them, but was canceled early. The HDCP/HECP is near the Battery 251 site. A trail leads to the Battery 132 site. A USAF radar is located on Bahokus Peak, and a USCG radar is located near the Battery 132 site. One or two completed fire-control towers may still exist south along the coast within Olympic National Park.

คค HARBOR DEFENSES of JUAN de FUCA STRAIT

คค Camp Hayden (Striped Peak Military Reservation)
(Salt Creek Recreation Area)
(1944 - 1948), Cresent Beach PHOTO GALLERY
Located on Striped Peak are Battery 131 (proposed name Battery Whistler) (1944 - 1948), and Battery 249 (proposed name Battery Peace) (1945 - 1948). A fire-control tower is nearby. Also here were once an SCR-296A and SCR-682 radars, and a Harbor Entrance Control Post (HECP). To the east of here, at Angeles Point (Lower Elwha Indian Res.), was a four-gun 155mm battery (1942 - 1944) on Panama mounts, now buried. That site was originally called Camp Angeles.
Located in Port Angeles were two 8-inch railway guns (1942 - 1944), at the west end of 6th Street. Located at Ediz Hook and White Creek were 37mm AMTB batteries.

คค NOTE: Additional fire-control towers associated with this defense are still located at Pillar Point, Twin, Majestic (two radar towers were also here), Gettysburg (private property), Agate Rock, and Angeles Point (two, one now gone). This Harbor Defense was not a seperate entity, but a sub-group of Harbor Defenses of Puget Sound. It operated as a joint U.S.-Canadian command, which also included Coast Artillery Defences, Victoria-Esquimalt Harbours in British Columbia.

Fort Discovery
(1838), Discovery Bay ?
A base of operations for the U.S. Navy's Wilkes Expedition charting the area's waters.

Fort Townsend (State Park)
(1856 - 1861, 1874 - 1895), Port Townsend
The entire garrison was transferred to San Juan Island in 1859 during the border dispute, but later returned. The abandoned post was used as a marine hospital during the Civil War. Reactivated after the war. Destroyed by fire in late 1894 and then abandoned. Site retained on the Army rolls until WWII, when it was used as a munitions defusing station. Became a state park in 1953.

Fort Wilson
(1855 - 1856), Port Townsend
An early defense for the town, located on Point Wilson. Fort Worden was later built at the site (see listing below).

English Camp
(San Juan Island National Historical Park)
(1846 - 1872), Roche Harbor, San Juan Island
Located on Garrison Bay. Four restored buildings remain and they include a blockhouse. This was the last place within the present-day United States to fly the British flag. Also on the island was the Hudson's Bay Company's Belle Vue Farm (1853 - 1862).

American Camp
(San Juan Island National Historical Park)
(1859 - 1874), near Friday Harbor, San Juan Island
An Army post located south of Friday Harbor. It was renamed Camp Pickett, then Post of San Juan (1863), then Camp Fred Steele (1867), and then to Camp San Juan Island (1868). Another name found in records is Camp Reynolds (date ?). Only two of the 29 buildings remain. It was established near the Hudson's Bay Company's Belle Vue Farm when the island was the center of a border dispute. Aside from the shooting of a pig at the farm, which caused the "Pig War," no violence took place. Robert's Redoubt was built using eight naval guns that were carried off the U.S.S. Massachusetts.

Fort Bellingham
(1855 - 1860), Bellingham
Originally a settlers' fort, later Federalized in 1856 to protect miners. Troops from here were sent to San Juan Island in 1859. The Pickett House still stands at 910 Bancroft Street. The town's original name was Whatcom.

James Davis' Blockhouse
(Ebey's Landing National Historical Reserve)
(1855), near Coupeville, Whidbey Island
Built for defense against Haida Indians. The blockhouse was moved in 1915 to Sunnyside Cemetery. Now known as Cook Blockhouse, and restored in the 1930's. Other blockhouses located here are the Jacob Ebey Blockhouse (1855), one surviving blockhouse of four, connected by palisades; and the two-story John Alexander Blockhouse (1855), later moved to its present site.

John Crockett's Blockhouses (1)
(Ebey's Landing National Historical Reserve)
(1855), near Keystone, Whidbey Island
Located near Fort Casey. Restored in 1938 by the WPA. Originally there were two blockhouses here, connected by a stockade. The other was sold in 1908 and moved to Seattle for the 1909 Alaska-Yukon Pacific Exposition, and later moved to Point Defiance Park in Tacoma.

คคค HARBOR DEFENSES of PUGET SOUND
Puget Sound's Triangle of Fire Photo Gallery

คคค Fort Whitman (State Game Refuge)
(Deception Pass State Park)
(1909 - 1947), Goat Island
Located in Skagit Bay, off Swinomish Indian Reservation. Located here is Battery Harrison (1911 - 1943). A 37mm AMTB battery was here in WWII. A mine observation tower still remains. Deception Pass was mined in WWI and WWII. At the southern shore of Deception Pass was located Anti Motor Torpedo Boat Battery 1A (1942 - 1944). Another 37mm AMTB battery was located at Dugalla Bay on Whidbey Island.

คคค Fort Ebey (2) (State Park)
(Ebey's Landing National Historical Reserve)
(1942 - 1946), San de Fuca, Whidbey Island
Battery 248 (proposed name Battery Merriam) (1943 - 1946) is located here. To the south of here, between Fort Ebey and Fort Casey, was Anti Motor Torpedo Boat Battery 2 (1943 - 1946) at Ebey's Landing. It is now buried, and is on private property. Two fire-control towers remain, another is destroyed on the beach. An SCR-296A radar was once here. Another FC tower is located at Swantown. Transferred to the Navy in the 1950's, then to the state in 1968. The park was open to the public in 1981.

คคค Fort Casey (State Park)
(Ebey's Landing National Historical Reserve)
(1897 - 1953), Keystone, Whidbey Island
Part of the "Triangle of Fire". Batteries located here are Battery Schenck (1899 - 1942), Battery Seymour (1899 - 1942), Battery Kingsbury (1902 - 1942) modified into AA (1942 - 1945), Battery Moore (1904 - 1942) modified into AA (1942 - 1945), Battery Worth (1898 - 1942) guns replaced in 1963 from Phillipines and still there, Battery Parker (1905 - 1918), Battery Valleau (1907 - 1918), Battery Turman (1901 - 1918), Battery Trevor (1905 - 1933) guns replaced in 1960 from Phillipines and still there, and Battery Van Horne (1905 - 1945). The Admiralty Head Lighthouse was built in 1901, replacing the original 1858 light. Several fire-control towers still remain. Became a state park in 1956. The University of Puget Sound owns the old cantonment area. Another website at Geocities.

คคค Fort Worden (State Park)
(1898 - 1953/1969), Port Townsend
Part of the "Triangle of Fire". Batteries here are Battery Brannon (1901 - 1943), Battery Powell (1901 - 1943), Battery Ash (1900 - 1942), Battery Kinzie (1910 - 1944), Battery Benson (1907 - 1943), Battery Quarles (1900 - 1941), Battery Randol (1900 - 1918), Battery Stoddard (1906 - 1917), Battery Tolles (1905 - 1943), two guns removed in 1918, Battery Tolles B (1937 - 1946), Battery Vicars (1902 - 1917), Battery Putnam (1907 - 1945), Battery Walker (1907 - 1946), and AMTB Battery Point Wilson (1943 - 1946), of which one gunblock is now in the surf. Three 3-inch anti-aircraft gun emplacements are also here. The Point Wilson Lighthouse is also here on post. This fort was the headquarters for the Puget Sound Defenses in WWI and WWII. Harbor mines and anti-submarine nets went across to Fort Casey. The park also includes the Puget Sound Coast Artillery Museum, and a 1930's balloon hangar that was used for airships. Became an Engineer training post in 1947. Portions used by the U.S. Navy for harbor defense from 1946 - 1969. Became a state park in 1955. The movie "An Officer and a Gentleman" was filmed here. Several restored quarters on Officers' Row are available for overnight stays. Admission fee. A 37mm AMTB was located at Hudson Point. An FC tower is still located at Tibbals Bluff. Others were once located at Beckett Point and Middle Point. Friends of Fort Worden

คคค Cape George Military Reservation
(1940's), near Port Townsend
A position for a four-gun railway battery (possibly never built), and four dismounted railguns. Two FC towers are still here. This was a subpost of Fort Worden.

คคค Fort Flagler (State Park)
(1897 - 1953), Nordland, Marrowstone Island
Part of the "Triangle of Fire". Batteries here are Battery Bankhead (1902 - 1942), Battery Wilhelm (1898 - 1942), Battery Rawlins (1899 - 1918), Battery Revere (1899 - 1941) modified into AA (1942 - 1945), Battery Calwell (1904 - 1918), Battery Grattan (1905 - 1918), Battery Lee (1901 - 1918), Battery Downes (1905 - 1946), Battery Wansboro (1906 - 1946) guns replaced in 1960 from Phillipines and still there, and AMTB Battery Marrowstone (1943 - 1946). A lighthouse is also here. Three 3-inch AA guns were also here. A 37mm AMTB was once located at Portage Canal. Placed in caretaker status in 1937, but reactivated in 1941. Became a state park in 1955. Some of the restored quarters on Officers' Row are available for overnight stays.

คคค Fort Ward (State Park)
(Manchester State Park)
(1901 - 1938, 1942 - 1958), South Beach, Bainbridge Island
Located on two sites facing each other across Rich Passage. One is on Bremerton Peninsula (Middle Point Military Reservation) near Manchester, the other is on Bainbridge Island (Fort Ward) near South Beach. Middle Point was reactivated and converted to a Navy Supply Depot in 1942. Part of the reservation later became a state park and part still belongs to the Navy. Fort Ward was closed in 1958, and became a state park in 1960. Batteries at Fort Ward are Battery Nash (1903 - 1918) private property, Battery Warner (1903 - 1925) private property, Battery Thornburgh (1903 - 1920), and Battery Vinton (1903 - 1920). Several homes have now been built here. The mine wharf remains, and the mine-loading room has been relocated. The battery at Middle Point (Manchester State Park) is Battery Mitchell (1903) never armed. A torpedo (mine) storeroom (1901) and mine casemate are also here. Several 37mm AMTB batteries were located at Orchard Point, Beans Point, and Agate Point during WWII.

คคค Fort Lawton
(1898 - 1967/present), Seattle
Originally known as Camp Lawton. Temporary batteries were built in 1898. Became an assembly camp in 1900 for the Boxer Rebellion in China. Redesignated an Infantry post in 1902. Became an Engineer training post in 1927. Became headquarters of the Puget Sound Air Defense missile sites 1954 - 1967. Became a subpost of Fort Lewis in 1968 as a Reserve Command headquarters. Most of the former post is now in Discovery Park.

Fort (Isaac) Ebey (1)
(1855), near Everett
Located on Ebey Island on the Snohomish River eight miles from its mouth. A single-story log blockhouse built by WA Volunteers who later transferred to Fort Alden.

Fort Kitsap
(1855), Port Madison, Bainbridge Island
A WA Volunteers blockhouse.

Fort Decatur
(1855), Seattle
A two-story two-gun blockhouse, also called Seattle Blockhouse, was built by Marines from the U.S.S. Decatur. Site located at 1st Avenue and Cherry Street.

Fort Duwamish
(1855), Seattle
A settlers' blockhouse once located at the base of the Seattle Peninsula, just south of the modern power plant. A palisade stretched across the peninsula.

Fort Lander
(1856), Sea-Tac
Originally only a blockhouse built by WA Volunteers. Later moved upriver on the south bank of the Duwamish River, and enclosed by a 98-by-58-foot bastioned stockade. Site located one-quarter mile south of the King County Airport administration building.

Black River Blockhouse
(1856), near Sea-Tac
A Federal blockhouse located on the Black River. Undetermined exact location.

Fort Dent
(1855), Tukwila
A Federal blockhouse.

Fort Henderson
(1856), near Fall City
A temporary blockhouse built by WA Volunteers from Fort Tilton. Located on the Snoqualmie River at Patterson Creek. Also called Fort Patterson.

Fort Tilton
(1855 - 1856), near Fall City
A temporary blockhouse built by WA Volunteers. Used as Northern Battalion headquarters during the Indian War. Site located three miles below the Snoqualmie River falls.

Fort Alden
(1856), Snoqualmie
A temporary blockhouse built by the WA Volunteers, located above the falls of the Snoqualmie River.

Fort Thomas
(1855), Kent
A temporary Federal two-story blockhouse. Located on the Green River opposite the town.

Camp Muckleshoot Prairie
(Muckleshoot Indian Reservation)
(1856 - 1857), near Newaukum
A Federal two-bastioned stockade located on the White River northeast of Lake Tapps. Renamed Fort Slaughter.

Fort Hays
(1856), near Buckley
Also called Connell's Prairie Blockhouse. Actually two blockhouses on a hill overlooking the prairie. Built by WA Volunteers. The fort has been preserved on its original site, located between Buckley and Lake Tapps, on the south-side of the White River.

Fort McAllister
(1855 - 1856), South Prairie
A WA Volunteers blockhouse.

Fort Posey
(1855 - 1856), near Buckley or Sumner ?
A WA Volunteers blockhouse located at the White River crossing (location ?).

Fort Pike
(1855 - 1856), near Buckley or Sumner ?
A WA Volunteers blockhouse located at the White River crossing (location ?).

Fort Maloney
(1855 - 1856), Puyallup
A Federal two-story blockhouse, site located on Meridian Street.

Fort White
(1855 - 1856), near Puyallup ?
A WA Volunteers blockhouse located at the emmigrant crossing of the Puyallup River (location ?).

Fort Hicks
(1855 - 1856), near Puyallup ?
A WA Volunteers blockhouse located about 12 miles east of Fort Steilacoom on the Puyallup River. Exact location undetermined, probably east or southeast of town (South Prairie Crossing ?).

Fort Nisqually
(Point Defiance Park)
(1833 - 1862), Tacoma
A Hudson's Bay Co. blockhouse (spelled Nesqually until 1843) originally located at the mouth of the Nisqually River near DuPont (HBC records after 1842). The fort was rebuilt in 1843 by the Puget Sound Agricultural Company (an HBC subsidiary), at a new location about two miles northeast of the original spot. The U.S. government purchased the company land in 1867. By 1934 only the Factor's House and Granary had survived, and were moved to Point Defiance Park in Tacoma and later restored. The bastioned stockade and all other buildings were reconstructed. The history is told at the DuPont Historical Museum. The original site was the first European settlement on Puget Sound. Admission fee.

The Crockett Blockhouse, originally from Whidbey Island (see above listing), was also moved here about the same time.

Fort Steilacoom
(1849 - 1868), Steilacoom
The first Federal fort on Puget Sound, originally called Post on Puget Sound. Built on land then still owned by the Hudson's Bay Company at Fort Nisqually. Thirty wood frame buildings were erected in 1857 - 1858 to replace the original log buildings, enlarging the post to a 600-foot square complex. In 1861 the garrison left to fight in the Civil War, leaving the Territorial Militia in charge of the fort. Four original restored Officers' quarters remain, located on the grounds of Western State Hospital.

Camp Murray (State Military Reservation)
(1890, 1892, 1898, 1903 - present), American Lake
A WA National Guard training area. Formally named in 1915. Originally the site of earlier state guard summer encampments near the Murray rail station. Used as a muster camp during the Spanish-American War. Became a mobilization center and training area for Army Engineers in 1917. Still in use as the headquarters of the state guard.

Camp David S. Stanley
(1917), American Lake
The original proposed site for Fort Lewis. A new site was chosen two and one-half miles southeast two weeks later.

Fort Lewis (U.S. Military Reservation)
(1917 - present), Tillicum
A National Army cantonment training area and demobilization center for the 91st Division. Originally named Camp Lewis until 1927. Several WWI era warehouses still survive. The Red Shield Inn (1918) was built at Camp Green (North Fort Lewis) as a Salvation Army guesthouse, but was bought by the U.S. Army in 1919 and used as an inn until 1972, becoming the Fort Lewis Museum in 1973. The base is still active today.

Fort Stevens
(1855 - 1856), Yelm
A WA Volunteers blockhouse on Yelm Prairie.

Fort Preston
(1855 - 1856), unknown location
A WA Volunteers blockhouse located on the Michel Fork Nisqually River (location ?).

Fort Eaton
(1855), Lacey
A settlers' blockhouse (?).

Olympia Blockhouse
(1856), Olympia
A large temporary blockhouse built by WA Volunteers. Site located at Capital Park.

Fort Henness
(1855 - 1856), Grand Mound
A settlers' stockade with two blockhouses, and enclosing several cabins. Provided refuge for 30 families. Used by the WA militia on occasion. Located two miles north of town, just south of Scatter Creek.

NEED MORE INFO: an 1841 British trading post on Anderson Island near Steilacoom. Fort Miller (1855), a WA Volunteers blockhouse located on Tanalquot Prairie (location ?). Fort Lone Tree Point (1856) was somewhere near Puget Sound.

According to Robert Frazer's "Forts of the West", during the 1855-1856 Indian troubles there were a total of 11 settler blockhouses/stockades on Whidbey Island. There were a total of 12 additional settler blockhouses/stockades on the mainland not listed here. There were a total of 35 Territorial Militia blockhouses/stockades, and 7 by the Regular Army. Additional information is needed for those posts not listed here.
Possible names (undetermined locations): Camp Ephraim, Fort Malikoff, Fort Mason (2) (?), Camp Osoyees, Fort Raglan, Fort Riggs, Fort Rupert, Fort Skookum, Fort Smalley.

Eastern and Southern Washington - page 2