Have you ever been crossing the Francis Scott Key Bridge (Key Bridge for short) in Dundalk, Maryland and noticed a small, remote, seemingly isolated and forgotten island just sitting out in the shallows of the Patapsco River? What is it exactly and why is it even there? What you are seeing are the remnants of Fort Carroll. Originally constructed as a 3.4-acre artificial island to house a hexagonally designed sea fort, there were once many high hopes and intended uses for Fort Carroll. But over the years, through way of flooding, the need to relocate supplies, and the eventual abandonment of the site altogether, Fort Carroll has all but slipped into obscurity.
That’s why in this Flashback Friday Feature, I’m going to shed a little light on the history of the now-abandoned Fort Carroll. From its construction to its intended uses, and even its current state as an overgrown vine-filled residence to nesting seabirds, the lesser-known story behind Fort Carroll is certainly one worth taking a closer look at.
Construction of the Fort
Forts were forever an essential part of United States wartime (maritime) history. While more popular local sites of significance, such as Fort McHenry in Baltimore, often come to mind, there have been several other lesser-recognized forts established throughout state ports and waterways as well.
In 1847 the State of Maryland gave the okay for the United States War Department to move forward with plans to construct a new fort based on the Sollers Point Flats in the Patapsco River. It was none other than the then Brevet-Colonel Robert E. Lee (more widely recognized today as Confederate General during the American Civil War) who designed the fort’s distinct hexagonal shape and structure. He also oversaw its construction and even supervised the U.S. Army Corps. of Engineers when groundbreaking got underway in 1848.
On October 8, 1850, the fort received its official name, “Fort Carroll” in honor of Charles Carroll of Carrollton, one of the original signers of the Declaration of Independence. An architectural marvel in so many ways, Fort Carroll wasn’t only striking for its fascinating shape but also for its curving stairs of granite, brick archways, and other callouts, including 350 cannon ports, onsite carpentry and blacksmith shops, and even a caretaker’s house. A later addition came about in 1853 when a lighthouse was constructed on the ramparts to assist with navigation into the Baltimore Harbor. It was eventually replaced by a newer lighthouse in 1898. The latter was eventually automated in 1920 and continued operating until shortly before 1945.
In Times of War
The goal had been that Fort Carroll would play many a significant role, if ever needed, in any and all future battles. That didn’t end up being the case, however. When the Civil War broke out in 1861, for instance, Fort Carroll’s walls were still less than half the originally intended height of 30 feet. Furthermore, only five of its gun platforms were finished in time, and only two of those were even armed with ammunition. All the same, the Army emplaced close to 30 or so cannons onsite and did use the fort during the War.
Further intended edification efforts to Fort Carroll following the Civil War were indefinitely halted after massive rainfall and flooding that caused extreme damage to the fort’s magazines in April of 1864. The destruction was so great that the United States Army had to move all the existing powder and ammunition to Fort McHenry.
By the time the Spanish-American War broke out in 1898, the United States Army again used the site to defend against enemy attacks by sea. But at this time the batteries were pretty useless, which led to the construction of modern concrete gun emplacements. These included three new batteries—Battery Towson (two 12″ barbette carriage guns), Battery Heart (two 5-inch M1897 guns on balanced pillar mounts), and Battery Augustin (two 3″ balanced pedestal-mount guns). The new batteries, however, weren’t ready until 1900—well after the War had already ended. Therefore, during the bulk of Spanish-American War, Fort Carroll was largely used for storing mines, holding captured seamen, and serving as a pistol range.
By the time World War I came around, Fort Carroll’s use was again somewhat lackluster and uneventful. In fact, the Army even ended up moving all the existing guns from the fort’s batteries to be used elsewhere during the War. By 1921 the fort was pretty much abandoned by the Army, and all remaining military equipment was transported to nearby Fort Howard. Two years later the War Department officially declared Fort Carroll to be excess property, although they didn’t immediately sell the property—a good thing since the fort had one last brief stint during World War II when it served as a firing range and checkpoint for vessels.
Abandoned and Obsolete
In the decades that Fort Carroll has stood stoically as an obsolete and abandoned beacon in the middle of the Patapsco River, a wide range of proposed uses for the island have been pitched and teased time and again. Back in 1923, shortly after its declaration as excess property, former Mayor of Baltimore, William Broening, even suggested adding an electric “Welcome to Baltimore” sign and statue of Lord Baltimore to the site. Another idea was to use the island as a prison. Still, none of the ideas ever came to fruition.
Then, in May of 1958, Baltimore attorney Benjamin Eisenberg bought the entire island for a sum of $10,000 (today’s equivalent of more than $101,430) from the United States Government. Eisenberg conveyed half of the property to his brothers, Alan and Irvin, with the initial intent to develop a casino, hotel, and restaurant on the island. These plans never materialized, however, when a judge ruled against them, citing that the property was based in Baltimore County rather than Anne Arundel County where slots were legal at the time.
So, Fort Carroll has been sitting unused and abandoned ever since the Eisenberg family acquired it. With the passing of the final brother, the Eisenbergs eventually sold the property to Fort Carroll, LLC in 2010. Out of its abandonment, though, the site has since discovered new life as a thriving wilderness to a wide range of both residential and migratory birds. Yet, by 2013 the existing fort structures were already beginning to show signs of wear and serious damage that even bordered on condemnation. It was officially listed as one of several threatened historic properties by Preservation Maryland. But with this new awareness also comes the silver lining that has since emerged, summoning a host of actions for maintaining the site which are still ongoing. As of 2015 Fort Carroll has been added to the National Register of Historic Places.
It’s sad to think of all the lost potential there could have been in utilizing Fort Carroll. At present time any future endeavors for the site seem unfathomable. But we can never know for certain what may come about one day.