Fort Independence Tours

Living with Castle Island as your backyard, it can be quite easy to take the spectacular 22 acre waterfront park for granted. It’s a perfect spot for a stroll, a jog, rollerblading or especially stuffing your face with the delectable delights of everything on Sully’s menu.

But – and I bet we are all guilty of it – don’t miss out on the incredible history lesson that is Fort Independence at Castle Island.

Did you know, for instance, that Fort Independence is the oldest continually fortified granite bastion fort that provided harbor defenses for Boston, Massachusetts? Fort Independence played a variety of roles in colonial and revolutionary times.

The fort was constructed from 1834 to 1851 and is the eighth iteration of forts on the island. The fort served as an armory during the Civil War, and was also utilized during the Spanish-American War, World War I, and World War II. In 1962 ownership of the fort shifted to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. It is literally bursting with history.

What you might not know is that the Fort Independence is open for FREE tours every Saturday and Sunday from noon to 3:30 pm and Thursday evenings at 6pm. The tours last about 30 minutes.

Take some friends and family over to Castle Island for a little history, exercise and some fabulous eats at Sully’s.

Both Fort Independence and Castle Island are listed on the state and national registers of historic places, and the Fort is a National Historic Landmark.

(Photo credit: The Cultural Landscape Foundation)