Fort Hancock, New Jersey

Infobox_nrhp | name =Fort Hancock and the Sandy Hook Proving Ground Historic District
nrhp_type = nhld


caption = Fort Hancock Memorial Park
location= Sandy Hook, New Jersey
locmapin = New Jersey
area =
built =1859
architect= US Army
architecture= No Style Listed
designated= December 17, 1982 cite web|url=http://tps.cr.nps.gov/nhl/detail.cfm?ResourceId=1828&ResourceType=District
title=Fort Hancock and Sandy Hook Proving Ground Historic District|date=2008-06-23|work=National Historic Landmark summary listing|publisher=National Park Service]
added = April 24, 1980
designated = December 17, 1982
governing_body = DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY
refnum=80002505cite web|url=http://www.nr.nps.gov/|title=National Register Information System|date=2007-01-23|work=National Register of Historic Places|publisher=National Park Service]

Fort Hancock is a former United States Army fort located in Middletown Township in Monmouth County, along the Atlantic coast of eastern New Jersey in the United States. This coastal artillery base played an important part in the defense of New York Harbor and played a role in the History of New Jersey. It is located on the Sandy Hook beach.

In 1893, Fort Hancock installed Battery Potter, the nation's first disappearing gun battery. [ [http://www.nps.gov/archive/gate/shu/pdf_files/history_defenses_of_sandy_hook.pdf The Defenses of Sandy Hook] (from a Sandy Hook, Gateway National Recreation Area, U.S. National Park Service information pamphlet. Accessed 2008-02-22.)] It also was important for the defense of the vital New York Harbor throughout World War II, trying to prevent the entrance of German submarines into the harbor. In the late 1950s Project Nike antiaircaft missiles were based there. Fort Hancock was decommissioned in 1972.

The historic fort and its small museum are now managed as part of the Sandy Hook Unit of Gateway National Recreation Area. Gateway NRA is part of the National Park System.

Notes

External links

* [http://www.nps.gov/gate Official National Park Service website for Gateway National Recreation Area]
* [http://www.thefortatsandyhook.net/history.asp History of Fort Hancock]
* [http://www.fieldtrip.com/nj/88720115.htm Fort Hancock Historic District]
* [http://www.nps.gov/history/NR/twhp/wwwlps/lessons/37hancock/37hancock.htm "Fort Hancock: A Bastion of America's Eastern Seaboard," a National Park Service Teaching with Historic Places (TwHP) lesson plan]