Fort Warren

Fort Warren is a historic fortification on Georges Island in the outer reaches of Boston Harbor. The pentagonal stone-and-granite fort was built between 1833 and 1861 under the direction of Sylvanus Thayer and named after Joseph Warren, a hero of the Revolutionary War. During the Civil War, the fort served as a prison for high-ranking Confederate officers and politicians, who by all accounts were treated humanely there. It is also the birthplace of the melody for the famous "Battle Hymn of the Republic," which is based on the song "John Brown," written at the fort.

The fort continued to see military use in later conflicts, including the Spanish-American War and World Wars I and II. During World War II, it housed the control center for the minefield meant to defend against submarines. After it was decommissioned in the 1940s and 1950s, ownership passed to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Today the site is managed by the Department of Conservation and Recreation and is part of the Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area.

You can reach the fort by ferry from Boston, Hingham, or Hull. The season typically runs from May through Columbus Day. On the island, rangers offer guided tours that give you insight into the fort's architecture and eventful history. From here you can continue on to other islands in the harbor, which makes the site a popular destination for day trips.