State park in Rhode Island, United States
Beavertail State Park
is a public recreation area encompassing 153 acres (62 ha) at the southern end of
Conanicut Island
in
Narragansett Bay
,
Rhode Island
. The
state park
's main attraction is the active
Beavertail Lighthouse
, the current tower of which dates from 1856. During
World War II
, the park area was part of
Fort Burnside
, one of several coastal fortifications designed to protect Narragansett Bay.
[3]
The park's scenic shoreline offers hiking, picnicking, and saltwater fishing.
[4]
History
[
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]
Lighthouse
[
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]
A 58-foot wooden tower built in 1749, under the direction of architect Peter Harrison of Newport, burned down in 1753. It was replaced by a fieldstone tower which was in use until 1856, when the present tower and keeper's quarters were completed.
[5]
The assistant keeper's house, which was built in 1898, now houses the Beavertail Lighthouse Museum.
[6]
Coastal fortifications
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Former joint Army-Navy Harbor Entrance Control Post disguised as a mansion at the former Fort Burnside.
In 1776, during the
American Revolution
, the Beaver Tail Fort was built in conjunction with the
Conanicut Battery
near Beaver Head. These forts were captured by the British when they seized the Newport area in December 1778, and later used by the Americans and French after the British withdrew in October 1779.
[7]
Fort Burnside was established in 1942 as part of the
Harbor Defenses of Narragansett Bay
. By late 1943, a
battery
of two
6-inch guns
(152 mm) and a battery of two
3-inch guns
(76 mm) were established. The 6-inch battery was called Battery Construction Number (BCN) 213, with ammunition
magazines
in a large bunker and the guns in shielded mounts. The 3-inch battery was called Battery Whiting; the guns were relocated from
Fort Getty
and the battery name was retained. A large Army-Navy Harbor Entrance Control Post, disguised as a seaside mansion, was also built and still exists. Fort Burnside also hosted a US Navy
indicator loop
station for detecting submarines (Station 1H).
[8]
A battery of two
16-inch guns
(406 mm), similar to those at
Fort Church
and
Fort Greene
and called BCN 110, was proposed for Fort Burnside but never built.
[9]
[10]
With the war over, Fort Burnside's guns were scrapped in 1948.
Radio station
[
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]
From circa 1960 to 1974, part of the former Fort Burnside was used for the Naval Radio Station (NAVRADSTA) Jamestown, part of Naval Communications Station (NAVCOMMSTA) Newport. It had a distinctive 600-foot (180-meter) radio tower.
[11]
State park
[
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]
The state created Beavertail State Park in 1980, after the site was declared federal surplus land.
[3]
The park is used for sightseeing, hiking, picnicking, and saltwater fishing. Nature programs are offered seasonally.
[4]
See also
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]
References
[
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]
- Berhow, Mark A., ed. (2004).
American Seacoast Defenses, A Reference Guide
(Second ed.). CDSG Press.
ISBN
0-9748167-0-1
.
- Lewis, Emanuel Raymond (1979).
Seacoast Fortifications of the United States
. Annapolis: Leeward Publications.
ISBN
978-0-929521-11-4
.
External links
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]
Forts in Rhode Island
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20th century forts
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Other forts
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