Visited Fort Phoenix in Fairhaven, Massachusetts this past weekend and thought I'd share some photo's.
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| View of Fort Phoenix from New Bedford/Fairhaven Hurricane barrier. |
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| 6-pound "John Paul Jones" Cannon |
This Fort was originally built in 1775-77 to defend New Bedford harbor. When complete it was armed with eleven 6-pound artillery cannons, one of which remains here today, which John Paul Jones had captured in the Bahamas.The fort was captured and destroyed by the British in 1778. Was renamed "Fort Phoenix' when rebuilt in honor of the mythical creature that also rose from the ashes.
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| 1812 era 4-pound artillery pieces on permanent loan from New Bedford Whaling Museum. |
The fort again saw action during the War of 1812 when it helped repel a land of British troops from HMS Nimrod in June of 1814.
The fort was manned during the Civil War and was equipped with eight 24-pound cannon, which 5 remain today. The Fort was inactivated in 1876 and fell into disuse. Scavengers even used the artillery carriages for firewood but they left the cannon. Was later purchased and donated to the town of Fairhaven to be used as a public park. Was list in the National Register of Historic Places in 1973.
Photograph's by Robert Plumer
Other interesting links.
- Fort Phoenix Blog
- Fort Phoenix State Reservation
- New Bedford Whaling Museum
- New Bedford/Fairhaven Hurricane Barrier
- Fairhaven Historical Society
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