The U.S. Army's Coast Artillery Corps was charged with the task of defending United States against naval attack. For practical reasons the defenses were located around the major deep-draft harbors. Harbors were generally sought out by an invading power as locations for their naval forces to to damage or prevent vital shipping from entering and leaving the port, to incur damage on the commercial and the naval support facilities of an enemy, and as a location to safely land and supply invading troops.
The modern-era harbor defenses consisted of several reservations of land on which were located the fortifications and support structures designed to keep enemy ships from entering the harbor. Each coast artillery reservation was on a prominent point overlooking a harbor entrance where the various elements of the defense fortifications were located: gun batteries, fire control stations, communications bunkers, wharves, and minefield control structures; as well as the various buildings for housing the soldiers and the storage of supplies and munitions: enlisted barracks, officers quarters, hospital, post exchange, bakery, and various ordnance and supply storage buildings. Generally there was one major garrison post at each harbor which functioned as the harbor defense headquarters.
This website provides information on the various elements that made up a harbor defense illustrated with examples from the Harbor Defenses of the Columbia (HDCR) and the Harbor Defenses of the Puget Sound (HDPS).The forts of the HDCR and HDPS are excellent places to view the coast artillery past. Most of the fortification structures remain at these locations today, all are are now parks and open to the public. Fort Stevens State Park (Oregon) has a large variety of remaining fortifications and an outstanding historical interpretive program. Fort Columbia State Park (Washington) retains most of its garrison buildings and is an excellent example of a small early modern era post. Fort Worden State Park is an excellent example of a large early modern era post with nearly all its structures intact and has a fine coast artillery museum. Fort Casey State Park features actual artillery pieces, including only remaining examples of 10 inch rifles on disappearing carriages left in the US.
For more details click on the links below to navigate to webpages on the various parts of American harbor defenses and learn more about the Harbor Defenses of the Columbia and the Harbor Defenses of Puget Sound.
A brief history of American seacoast defense
Underwater Defenses (Mines)
Garrison buildings
Coast Artillery Units
Photo gallery of remaining American seacoast artillery weapons
Lists of American Forts, Miltary Reservations, and Batteries 1794-1950
The Harbor Defenses of the Columbia River
The Harbor Defenses of Puget Sound
For more specific information on the other US harbor defenses visit these Websites:
FortWiki: US Harbor Defenses
The links catalog page to a detailed website with information and photos on nearly all US forts and batteries
For more information on documentation see the page on Key Documents and References.
To order documentation reprints on the American seacoast defenses, visit the CDSG ePress pages
Much more detail can be found in the CDSG publication American Seacoast Defenses: a Reference Guide
