Castle Island Fort Independence

Castle Island is the oldest continuously fortified site in British North America!

The first fort on Castle Island was built in 1634 for the sea defense of Boston. Fort Independence is Castle Island's 8th fort and was completed in 1851. It was built by Col. Sylvanus Thayer, the 'Father of West Point'. The Fort is 5 bastioned and built with granite from the quarries at Rockport, MA. Fort Independence is an excellent example of a Civil War coastal defense fort - please come visit us!

Free tours of Fort Independence on Castle Island are sponsored by the Castle Island Association in cooperation with the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR).