The Manhattan Fort That Was a Concert Hall, Aquarium & Immigration Center Before Finding Its True Calling

Castle Clinton, New York

Before Ellis Island handled new Americans, another place did the job. Castle Clinton welcomed over 8 million people to New York between 1855 and 1890. This round stone building also hosted fancy parties and sea creatures during its long career. Here’s how one structure survived by never staying the same.

A Fort Built For War That Never Fired A Shot

John McComb Jr. and Jonathan Williams designed the Southwest Battery in 1808.

McComb had already designed City Hall, while Williams served as West Point’s first superintendent. Workers armed the fort with 28 cannons.

Each fired 32-pound cannonballs up to one and a half miles into the harbor.

The battery stood ready to repel British warships. General Joseph Bloomfield established his headquarters here during the War of 1812.

Despite full combat readiness, the cannons never fired at an enemy.

The fort’s presence, combined with other harbor defenses, kept British ships away from New York throughout the war.

From Military Fort To Entertainment Venue

The Army abandoned the fort in 1821 after newer coastal defenses made it obsolete.

New York City received ownership in 1823. Officials transformed the military site into an entertainment destination.

On July 3, 1824, “Castle Garden” opened to the public as a restaurant, theater, opera house, and exhibition hall.

Samuel Morse demonstrated his telegraph here for New Yorkers, and workers added a roof in the 1840s.

America’s First Immigration Station

Castle Garden began processing immigrants on August 3, 1855. New York State leased the structure and established America’s first official immigration center.

Between 1855 and 1890, more than eight million people entered America through Castle Garden, two-thirds of all immigrants during this period.

The experience proved so chaotic that it entered Yiddish vocabulary. “Kesselgarden” became a term meaning a noisy, confusing situation.

Processing Newcomers In America’s Gateway

Immigrants underwent medical examinations at the Marine Hospital on Staten Island before reaching Castle Garden.

Officials checked for contagious diseases before allowing entry. A 12-foot wooden fence encircled the fort.

This barrier kept out unauthorized persons and protected newcomers from swindlers waiting to prey on confused arrivals.

Inside, the central rotunda held up to 4,000 people. Officials recorded each immigrant’s name, origin, and destination in massive ledgers.

Castle Garden processed its final immigrant on April 18, 1890. Ellis Island took over this function in 1892, becoming the new gateway to America.

The New York Aquarium Years

Workers renovated the structure extensively and opened the New York City Aquarium on December 10, 1896. They added a dome with skylights and circular colonnades.

The facility held 300,000 gallons of water and 150 marine species, including a beluga whale.

The aquarium became one of New York’s most popular attractions, and millions visited annually until its closure in 1941.

Robert Moses And The Fight For Preservation

Parks Commissioner Robert Moses closed the aquarium in February 1941. He needed the space for the Brooklyn-Battery Tunnel construction.

Moses called the fort an “ugly wart” with “no history worth writing about.” He dismissed its importance because it “never fired a shot” in battle.

Workers removed the roof and aquarium additions, leaving only the original fort walls. Moses planned to demolish these too for his tunnel project.

His disregard for the fort’s historical value launched one of New York’s first major preservation battles.

A Landmark Preservation Battle

George McAneny, former Manhattan Borough President, led the fight against demolition. He united 18 preservation groups to save the fort. P

ierce Trowbridge Wetter of the Greenwich Village Historical Society filed legal injunctions in 1941 and 1942. These actions bought time while support grew.

The New York Historical Society joined by publishing pamphlets and organizing opposition.

McAneny exposed Moses’ claims by convincing the New York Herald Tribune to publish aerial photographs, and these images proved the fort wasn’t blocking harbor views as Moses claimed.

Becoming A National Monument

President Harry Truman signed legislation on August 12, 1946, declaring Castle Clinton a National Monument. This federal designation marked a victory for preservationists.

The New York State Senate passed a bill authorizing the return of the fort to federal ownership and removed the structure from city control and Moses’ jurisdiction.

Truman approved $166,750 for restoration on April 29, 1949 to fund the first phase of returning the fort to its original appearance.

New York City eventually transferred the property to the federal government on July 18, 1950. The National Park Service took responsibility for the historic structure.

The Restored Fortress Reopens

The National Park Service completed a $750,000 restoration, during which workers stripped away modern additions and uncovered original features hidden for a century.

Castle Clinton reopened on May 24, 1975, with Beethoven’s 9th Symphony, echoing an 1846 concert held at Castle Garden during its entertainment era.

The site opened for daily visits on June 20, 1975, after three decades of closure. Americans could once again walk through the historic structure.

Visiting Castle Clinton

Castle Clinton is in Battery Park at Manhattan’s southern tip. Since 1986, the fort has served as the departure point for the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island ferries.

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