
Welcome back to National Parks and other public lands with T!

Fort Hancock was built to defend the entrance to New York Harbor in the late 1800s. It was active through both World Wars and the Cold War, converting to a missile base when the old gun batteries became obsolete. The government deactivated the base in 1974.

The Fort Hancock Museum occupies the Guardhouse, built in 1899. This building served as the military jail for the base.

Restoration of the building began in 2010 but then it suffered serious damage during Hurricane Sandy in 2012.

In September 2018, the museum re-opened to the public. It showcases artifacts from all periods of the peninsula’s long history.

Sandy Hook Posts:
- Sandy Hook
- Grand Re-opening
- Sandy Hook Light
- Fort Hancock
- Women’s Barracks

Location: 128 South Hartshorne Drive, Highlands, NJ 07732
Designation: National Recreation Area
Date designated/established: October 27, 1972
Date of my visit: September 30, 2018



