Skip to main content

Fort Hancock NJ - Where Gumbo Was (#131)

IMG_0061-001

Entrance to Mortar Battery

Congratulations to TravelingCanuck who guessed that this week Gumbo was "down the shore" in New Jersey, visiting Fort Hancock. Fort Hancock is a decommissioned military base that sits in the Sandy Hook National Park. The National Park is also home to the Sandy Hook Light House.


IMG_0055-001

Sandy Hook Lighthouse

The original safe channel into NY harbor passes very close to Sandy Hook, at the north end of the Jersey Shore, and there has been a lighthouse here since 1764 and a military base since 1812. In 1890 the army built fortified cement mortar batteries, and it was one of those that Gumbo was entering in the first picture.


IMG_0062-001

The circles were tracks for aiming the 12-inch guns

IMG_0065-001

Unfortunately, some of the information signage was damaged during Hurricane Sandy and has not yet been repaired.

IMG_0067
IMG_0069-001

12-inch mortar shells


In 1898 Fort Hancock was commissioned as a permanent military base and became home to a proving ground for large guns and also missile defense site during the cold war.



IMG_0070-001

Officer's Housing

IMG_0071

Enlisted Men's mess hall

IMG_0084-001

Memorial to 9 soldiers and civilians killed when a NIKE missile exploded in its silo nearby.


One of the most interesting things about this retired military base is that it sits inside a National Park that one of the most popular beaches on the Jersey shore.


IMG_0075-001
IMG_0076-001
IMG_0079-001

Attachments

Images (12)
  • IMG_0061-001
  • IMG_0055-001
  • IMG_0062-001
  • IMG_0065-001
  • IMG_0067
  • IMG_0069-001
  • IMG_0070-001
  • IMG_0071
  • IMG_0084-001
  • IMG_0075-001
  • IMG_0076-001
  • IMG_0079-001

Add Comment

Comments (1)

Newest · Oldest · Popular
Post
×
×
×
×
Link copied to your clipboard.
×