Fort Pickering
Also known as: Fort William; Fort Anne
Why it's listed
Fort Pickering occupies roughly two acres on the eastern and southern side of Winter Island, a 38-acre island on the western side of Salem Harbor connected to Salem Neck by a causeway. Defenses stood here by 1644, first as simple earth and wood works, and the site was later known as Fort William and Fort Anne. In 1774 it garrisoned the 59th British Regiment, and during the Revolution it protected Salem's large fleet of privateers. Salem ceded the ground to the United States in 1794, and the fort was renamed in 1799 for Timothy Pickering, a Salem resident who served as Secretary of War and Secretary of State. The frigate Essex was built under its guns that year. The federal government rebuilt the fort in 1863-64, and it was garrisoned again in 1898. Surviving features include an earth-covered block house with brick vaults, a granite wall, earthen embankments and a tall mound. The remains are ruinous but restorable.
Significance in brief: The nomination calls it the oldest remaining fortified site in Salem and one of the oldest in Massachusetts. It was in use from the colonial period through the Revolution, was rebuilt by the federal government in 1794 and 1864, and was garrisoned in the Spanish American War in 1898. The frigate Essex was built under the protection of its guns in 1799.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 73000320, listed February 8, 1973. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Winter Island, Salem |
|---|---|
| County | Essex County |
| Listed | February 8, 1973 |
| Reference number | 73000320 |
| Resource type | Site |
| Architect / builder | Present structures built in 1863 by the Department of War; 1794 fort begun under engineer S. Rochefontaine |
| Areas of significance | Military, Engineering |
| Level of significance | National, State, Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Structures are generally in a ruinous but restorable condition; the fort was later abandoned after the Spanish American War, and the site is owned by the U.S. Coast Guard. |
| Acreage | 2 |
| Coordinates | 42.52676, -70.90005 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
Sites (archaeological sites, battlefields, landscapes) are often listed with a restricted address to protect them from looting or disturbance. Listing is honorary for private owners; federal undertakings on or near the site go through Section 106 review, and state laws may protect burials and artefacts regardless of listing.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 73000320.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5471823
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.