Two RV Gypsies: Full-Time RVers
go to the home page of the two RV Gypsies
Table of Content index
learn about Karen and Lee Duquette email the two RV Gypsies sgin the guestbook of the Two RV Gypsies
Alaska visits by the two RV Gypsies
places in Canada the two RV Gypsies have visited
see countries and cruises The two RV Gypsies on cruises visit the USA sites
learn about Brian Duquette's tragedy places before 2008 Links to other RV site RV help for travelers vidoes by the Two RV Gypsies
The two RV Gypsies explored Fort Nathan Hale
and Black Rock Fort
Woodward Avenue
New Haven, Connecticut
June 12, 2017
USA map showing location of CTCT map showing location of Fort Nathan Hale

Below: A copy of the Nathan Hale statue by Bela Lyon Pratt that was dedicated at Yale University in 1914 (another copy of the statue stands outside CIA headquarters in Virginia). The statue depicts a young Hale, hands bound behind his back, just before being executed by British forces for espionage.

 

Nathan Hale statue

Nathan Hale plaque

clipart history bookIn early 1776, the colony of Connecticut commissioned the construction of a fort on a rock that stretched out into the harbor to protect the port of New Haven from the British. This was the location of an earlier unnamed fort from circa 1657. Unfortunately for the colonists, in 1779 British General William Tryon, during his raid of Connecticut coastal communities, captured Black Rock Fort along with its nineteen defenders, but only after they had run out of ammunition. The British burned the barracks as they left. In 1807-1812, the abandoned fort was reconstructed with six guns as Fort Nathan Hale under the second system of US fortifications, and it served to defend the port from the British once again during the War of 1812. In 1863, Fort Nathan Hale II was built alongside the original fort, out of concern that Southern raiders might strike the city during the Civil War, but the fort saw no battle action. This fort contained deep, earthen, bomb-proof bunkers. Unusually, the fort was partially demolished after the war.

The site has been known as a historic site since 1921, when Congress deeded the fort to the State, which turned it over to the City to maintain. The site was turned into a popular bathing and picnic area but pollution and the hurricane of 1938 brought such recreation to an end. The site was neglected and became overgrown and the fort fell into decay. In 1967, the Fort Nathan Hale Restoration Project was founded by a group of concerned citizens interested in the restoration and preservation of Fort Nathan Hale.

Brought back to life in time for the nation's bicentennial, Fort Nathan Hale was rededicated on July 5, 1976. Both Fort Nathan Hale and Black Rock Fort have been reconstructed and include a newly restored drawbridge, moat, ramparts, powder magazines and "bombproof" bunker. Through the efforts of FNHRP, funds are raised annually to maintain, staff and promote the facility.

There are two picnic tables near the parking lot. There are no Fees to enter the fort.

 

Memorial Flag Court sign

Memorial Flag Court

In addition to the reconstructed forts, the site features a memorial flag court with replicas of flags flown during the Colonial Era, the American Revolution, War of 1812, the Civil War, and today. Karen Duquette could only photograph 3 of the 5 flags shown above due to the position of the sun at the time. But a definition of each of the 5 flags shown above is written below as per the brochure at Fort Nathan Hale.

crown divider bar

Cross of Saint George: The first English flag used in North America. It was flown by John Cabot in 1497 under the reign of King Henry VII. (In 1620, when the Mayflower landed in America, a new flag was used for the Colonies. King James took the Cross of Saint George and superimposed it onto the Scottish flag of Saint Andrew, calling it the King's Colors.)

Cross of Saint George
divider bar

In 1776, the Colonies adopted the Thirteen Stripes representing the Thirteen Colonies, and kept the Kings Colors in the Canton (corner square) illustrating their allegiance to England, and their wiliness to fight for their rights and justice. George Washington personally raised this flag at Cambridge, Massachusetts as his men were advancing on the British in Boston. This flag is also call the Cambridge or Continental flag.

13 stripe Cambridge Flag
divider bar

15 Star Flag: The 15 stars and strips was flown from 1795 to 1818. This flag was flown during the War of 1812 and during the United States War with the Barbary States. It was this flag that inspired Francis Scott Key to write the "Star Spangled Banner." It also inspired a heated debate in Congress over the number of stripes in the banner.

15 Star Flag
divider bar

Between 1795 and 1818, five new States were admitted into the Union, and a new flag was needed. A Navy Captain redesigned the flag and returned to the 13 original Stripes but added a star for each new State. Congress adopted this idea and also stipulated that on July 4th, following the admission of a new state, a new star would be flown on the flag to represent that state.

divider bar

During the Civil War, the Union Forces used four official flags with 33, 34, 35, and 36 stars. The 36 star flag, the USA's 18th National Flag, was flown from 1865 to 1867. The Confederate States of America were in their last hours when Nevada was admitted to the Union as the 36th State.

divider bar

50 Star Old Glory: This flag with 50 stars has been flown since 1960. On March 18, 1959, Hawaii became the USA's 50th state and the last star in the flag up to the present time.

divider bar
  Betsy Ross Flag information Betsy Ross Flag information
 

Civil War Drawbridge

Lee Duquette on the Civil War Drawbridge

 

view from the drawbridge

bird

This is a National Historic Registered place. There was an “Unnamed Fort” here, built in 1657, according to the sign in the photo below. In 1775, Black Rock Fort was built but was demolished. Then, Fort Nathan Hale was built in 1807 but no trace of that fort remains. Then in 1863, a fourth fort, Fort Nathan Hale II, was built on the same piece of land as a defense against the Confederate Navy. The Rebels never made it to New Haven, however, so that incarnation never saw action. So it was demolished too. Eventually, the Fort Nathan Hale Restoration Project rebuilt Black Rock Fort, not Fort Nathan Hale.

  sign about the 4 forts on this site sign about the 4 forts on this site
 

The Powder Magazine

 
 

The Powder Magazine

The Powder Magazine

Fort Nathan Hale brochure

 

Black Rock Fort sign

Black Rock Fort

This Memorial Commemorates the determined resistance near this spot of the Patriots of New Haven against the British Invasion under Major General Tryon of New York, July 5, 1779.

 

memorial cannon

memorial cannon

View from Black Rock Fort

 

View from Black Rock Fort

View from Black Rock Fort

The two RV Gypsies were not able to take the entire self-guided walking tour because they got there just a short time before the area and parking lot closed at 3 p.m. The fort is located right next to a U.S. Navel Reserve Station.

look below
This is not a linear site, so there are two choices for continued navigation below:

go to the next adventure of the two RV Gypsies Continue navigation in the order of occurrence - Karen Duquette's cousins


OR

return to a previous page Return to the Connecticut menu to continue navigation in the order of your choice.