Fort Taber

Fort Taber District
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
U.S. Historic district
Fort Rodman
Location:	New Bedford, Massachusetts
Coordinates:	41°35′35″N 70°54′5″W / 41.59306°N 70.90139°W / 41.59306; -70.90139Coordinates: 41°35′35″N 70°54′5″W / 41.59306°N 70.90139°W / 41.59306; -70.90139
Built:	1861
Architect:	Unknown
Architectural style:	No Style Listed
Governing body:	GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION
NRHP Reference#:	73001954 [1]
Added to NRHP:	February 8, 1973

Fort Taber District or the "Fort at Clark's Point" is a historic American Civil War-era military fort on Wharf Road within the former Fort Rodman Military Reservation in New Bedford, Massachusetts. The fort is now part of Fort Taber Park, a 47-acre town park located at Clark's Point.

Fort Taber

Also known as the Old Stone Fort, Fort Taber began to be constructed the late 1850s, and in 1862 construction became overseen by Henry Robert, author of Robert's Rules of Order.^[2] Construction was halted in 1871 and the fort as planned was never completed. The site was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1973.

The fort is awaiting restoration and is not open to the public.

Because of its construction history during the Civil War, local citizens called it Fort Taber after New Bedford's mayor during that period.^[2] However, the U.S. Army officially named the military reservation at the site and the fort as Fort Rodman Military Reservation, in honor of Lieutenant Colonel Logan Rodman, a New Bedford native with the 38th Massachusetts Infantry who died in the assault on Port Hudson, Louisiana in 1863.

Clark's Point Light

Clark's Point Lighthouse was originally established in 1797 and went through several versions before the fort was built. The fort obscured the light, so a new light was built on the northeast bastion of the fort in 1869.^[3] The working lighthouse was restored in 2001, but is not open to the public. The United States Coast Guard Light List^[4] description is "White wooden tower on granite block fort. Private [ie, not USCG] aid".

Fort Taber Historical Association Museum

The Fort Taber Historical Association Museum is located at Fort Taber Park, and features a miniature model of the fort, uniforms from different eras during the fort's active use, photos and military memorabilia. It is operated by the Fort Taber/Fort Rodman Historical Association and opened in 2004.

Park amenities

The park includes several gun batteries, and American Revolution and Civil War re-enactments are held in the park.

A World War II Exercise Tiger tank is on display in the park.

See also

• National Register of Historic Places listings in New Bedford, Massachusetts

References

1. ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. 2008-04-15. http://nrhp.focus.nps.gov/natreg/docs/All_Data.html. 
2. ^ ^{a b} http://www.ci.new-bedford.ma.us/Tourism/Attractions/FortTaberPark.html
3. ^ http://www.cyberlights.com/lh/mass/clarks.htm
4. ^ United States Coast Guard (2009). Light List, Volume I, Atlantic Coast, St. Croix River, Maine to Shrewsbury River, New Jersey. p. 151. 

External links

• Fort Taber Park - City of New Bedford
• Fort Taber/Fort Rodman Historical Association
• Clark's Point Lighthouse