Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Loading...
Top Destinations
Latest Places
Most Popular Places Random Place Lists Itineraries
Add a Place
Download the App
Top Destinations
View All Destinations »

Countries

  • Australia
  • Canada
  • China
  • France
  • Germany
  • India
  • Italy
  • Japan

Cities

  • Amsterdam
  • Barcelona
  • Beijing
  • Berlin
  • Boston
  • Budapest
  • Chicago
  • London
  • Los Angeles
  • Mexico City
  • Montreal
  • Moscow
  • New Orleans
  • New York City
  • Paris
  • Philadelphia
  • Rome
  • San Francisco
  • Seattle
  • Stockholm
  • Tokyo
  • Toronto
  • Vienna
  • Washington, D.C.
Latest Places
View All Places »
Contemplative paths.
Ayo Rock Formations
Parking Lot Shoeprints
Dewey Square Pylon & Bent 38
Black Rocks of Pungo Andongo
Latest Places to Eat & Drink
View All Places to Eat »
The pavlova comes crowned with jewel-like fruit.
Central Park Boathouse
The Village Tavern of Long Grove - exterior.
The Village Tavern
Hunter House Hamburgers
L’Escamoteur
Names on the bartop.
The Dive
Recent Stories
All Stories Video Podcast
Most Recent Stories
View All Stories »
Benshi would introduce and provide commentary for films like A Page of Madness.
Remembering the Heyday of Japan’s Silent FIlm Narrators
The Horn & Hardart Automat was a staple of urban dining in midcentury New York City.
All Hail the Slop Bowl, Lunch of Our Ancestors
The Grateful Dead’s “Wall of Sound” on display in Las Vegas.
The Grateful Dead’s Wall of Sound Changed Live Music Forever
Two suitcases in an empty airport hall.
AO Mailbag: Is It Normal to Share a Checked Bag With Your Boyfriend?

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All the United States New York State New York City Manhattan Blockhouse No. 1

Blockhouse No. 1

This ruined fort hidden at the top of Central Park can't seem to keep from losing its historical plaques.

New York, New York

Added By
Alexandra Lake
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
CAPTION
Blockhouse No. 1   alexandralake / Atlas Obscura User
Blockhouse No. 1   alexandralake / Atlas Obscura User
Blockhouse No. 1   alexandralake / Atlas Obscura User
Blockhouse No. 1   alexandralake / Atlas Obscura User
Blockhouse No. 1   alexandralake / Atlas Obscura User
Blockhouse No. 1   alexandralake / Atlas Obscura User
Blockhouse No. 1   alexandralake / Atlas Obscura User
Spooky!!!   guclunergiz / Atlas Obscura User
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

At the crest of Central Park's North Woods, one of the few places in central Manhattan where you can maintain (if fleetingly) the fantasy of being in the wilderness, perches Blockhouse No. 1.

This fort is the oldest structure in the park, constructed as part of a series of fortifications during the War of 1812. It is the sole remaining fortification from these defenses, which originally included three other forts in Harlem (now Morningside) Heights. 

Blockhouse No. 1 was hastily constructed under the direction of General Joseph Gardner Swift. Manhattan's fortifications were prompted by a nearby naval battle. On August 9, 1814, a squadron of British war vessels attacked the town of Stonington, Connecticut. Within days, New Yorkers assembled to dig trenches and build forts along the high ground in Manhattan. Firemen, lawyers, members of the Master Butchers Association, the Sons of Erin, Columbia College students, and others volunteered, building the fort out of materials brought with them, resulting in the red sandstone blocks included with the Manhattan schist. Blockhouse No. 1 was built on a previously existing foundation, likely dating back to the Revolutionary War. The fort consists of a two-story bunker containing small gunports. It originally included a revolving turret for a cannon. 

None of these fortifications ever saw combat. Shortly following their construction, the Treaty of Ghent was signed to end the war, after which the fortifications were abandoned practically overnight. Blockhouse No. 1 was later used as an ammunition and storage building, during which time the top two feet of stonework were added. It was maintained by Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux as a lovely stone folly in their design of Central Park. 

Visiting Blockhouse No.1 today, you will see no signs to indicate this history. This is because the fort has a curious habit of losing its plaques. The first bronze tablet commemorating the fort's history was placed above the door in 1905. The unexplained absence of Park Commissioner Pallas at this ceremony caused for it to be accepted instead by General Frederick D. Grant, son of U.S. President Ulysses S. Grant. However, this original plaque was stolen, noticed missing in 1913. In 1993, the Blockhouse had another sign erected recounting its history, only to be stolen again in 2013. 

Related Tags

Forts Ruins Military History Military

Know Before You Go

Visible on Google Maps, Blockhouse No. 1 is located in Central Park's North Woods approximately at the intersection of W 108 St and Adam Clayton Powell Jr Blvd, were they to extend into the park.

Community Contributors

Added By

alexandralake

Edited By

guclunergiz, tz9bnfntyh

  • guclunergiz
  • tz9bnfntyh

Published

April 7, 2015

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Sources
  • http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blockhouse_No._1_%28Central_Park%29
  • http://www.timefreezephotos.com/infoview.asp?phid=333
  • http://forgotten-ny.com/2001/03/the-blockhouse-and-the-bench/
Blockhouse No. 1
New York, New York, 10026
United States
40.797528, -73.95582

Nearby Places

New York Cancer Hospital

New York, New York

miles away

New York Academy of Medicine Rare Book Library

New York, New York

miles away

Graffiti Hall of Fame

New York, New York

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of New York

New York

New York

Places 406
Stories 89

Nearby Places

New York Cancer Hospital

New York, New York

miles away

New York Academy of Medicine Rare Book Library

New York, New York

miles away

Graffiti Hall of Fame

New York, New York

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of New York

New York

New York

Places 406
Stories 89

Related Stories and Lists

The Quietest Spots in America’s Loudest City

List

By Isaac Schultz

Related Places

  • Fort Frederica

    Saint Simons Island, Georgia

    Fort Frederica

    The remnants of the fortress that saved Georgia from the Spanish still stand guard on their swampy island.

  • Fort Livingston

    Grand Isle, Louisiana

    Fort Livingston

    Pirates had to be ousted from the land where this now ruined Louisiana fortress was built.

  • Fort DeRussy

    Washington, D.C.

    Fort DeRussy

    A Civil War fort in the middle of Washington, D.C. has been swallowed by a forest.

  • Fort Richmond ruins, Fort Wadsworth.

    Staten Island, New York

    Remains of Fort Wadsworth

    Once America's longest-manned military fort, now an abandoned hulk.

  • Fort Alexander

    Russia

    Fort Alexander

    A man-made island fort that has housed soldiers, scientists, and ravers.

  • The Thames Forts in 2013

    England

    Maunsell Army Sea Forts

    Surreal riveted sea forts once protected the Kent shores from German attack.

  • The water tank

    Oxford, England

    Slade Camp

    A lost World War II military camp and post-war suburb swallowed by the woods.

  • Fernandina Beach, Florida

    Fort Clinch

    Used as a military post in three different engagements, this fort has remained incomplete and unfired upon for nearly 200 years.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.