Sandy Hook➤

Sandy Hook in New Jersey is one of Gateway National Recreation Area’s three geographical units. The other two are in Staten Island and Queens, with the three parks framing the ‘gateway’ to New York Harbor. Fort Hancock was built in 1896. It served as a primary defense of New York City up through the cold war. In 1954, operations were converted to a Nike missile base. The fort was decommissioned in 1974. There is still an active Coast Guard station just north of the fort. What remains of the fort are the ruins of the batteries, including Battery Gunnison, and the distinctive row of yellow houses (Officer’s Row.)

Battery Gunnison/New Battery Peck➤

The military built Battery Gunnison in 1904 as a rapid-fire coastal defense battery with twin six-inch disappearing guns. These weapons countered fast-moving enemy vessels threatening New York Harbor. As World War II escalated, the battery underwent a major transformation. In 1943, the Army modified it to house two M1900 six-inch pedestal-mounted guns, replacing the original ones to improve the field of fire. They renamed it New Battery Peck, honoring Lieutenant Fremont Pearsons Peck, a U.S. Army Ordnance officer who died in a weapons testing explosion.

During WWII, New Battery Peck played a critical role in harbor defense. As part of the Advanced Harbor Entrance Control Post No. 1, it identified and verified all incoming vessels to prevent enemy blockships or disguised merchant raiders from slipping through. Between 1943 and 1944, the battery opened fire on thirteen occasions due to the tense situation. Only later, they determined they’d fired on Allied ships.

Open House➤

During a visit to the Sandy Hook Unit of Gateway National Recreation Area, I had the opportunity to step into history at Battery Gunnison/New Peck during a special open house. Volunteers from the Army Ground Forces Association, dressed in authentic WWII-era uniforms, guided us through the battery, sharing its fascinating past and ongoing restoration efforts. Seeing this historic coastal defense site brought to life was a unique experience.

Walking through the battery with knowledgeable volunteers felt like stepping into the 1940s. They demonstrated how soldiers operated the guns, tracked enemy ships using period-correct spotting telescopes. They relayed targeting information through a restored telephone network. Inside, the restoration efforts stood out. The plotting room featured a reconstructed M3 plotting board and other pre-computer devices used for firing calculations. They stocked the shell and powder magazines with inert six-inch shells, recreating the look and feel of a fully operational artillery battery.

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Location: 128 South Hartshorne Drive, Highlands, NJ 07732
Designation: National Recreation Area
Date designated/established: October 27, 1972
Date of my visit: February 10, 2024