Fort Schuyler
Also known as: Fort Schuyler,State University of New York Maritime College
Why it's listed
Fort Schuyler occupies the tip of Throg's Neck, where the East River meets Long Island Sound in the Bronx. Construction began in 1833 under Captain I.L. Smith of the Army engineers, and the grey granite fort, an irregular pentagon with bastions, casemates and a drawbridge, was ready for its guns in December 1845. Armament was completed in 1856. Named for General Philip Schuyler, it was meant to defend New York City, yet its garrison never fired its guns in anger. After the army left in 1934, the fort was restored between 1934 and 1938 as the home of the state merchant marine academy, now the State University of New York Maritime College. Although the interior was completely rebuilt, the exterior remains essentially intact. Nearby are five officers' quarters from 1878, a brick warehouse contemporary with the fort, and stone outerworks. Together they illustrate nineteenth-century coastal defense and a successful example of adaptive reuse.
Significance in brief: The fort is a good illustration of nineteenth-century coastal fortification design that protected New York City and the river approach to the interior of the state. Its exterior and basic structure remain intact, and it has been successfully adapted for college use. The surrounding frame residences and brick warehouse add to the complex.
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 76001206, listed June 29, 1976. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Throgs Neck at East River and Long Island Sound, New York |
|---|---|
| County | The Bronx |
| Listed | June 29, 1976 |
| Reference number | 76001206 |
| Resource type | District |
| Period of significance | 1833-1856 |
| Architect / builder | Captain I.L. Smith |
| Areas of significance | Military, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Used as part of the State University of New York Maritime College campus; the interior was completely transformed in 1934-1938 and later adapted for administration, library and dining uses. Five officers' quarters are maintained as residences and the warehouse retains its original use. |
| Acreage | 17 |
| Coordinates | 40.80637, -73.79194 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
This is a historic district. Buildings within its boundary are either contributing (they add to the district's significance) or non-contributing. Owners of contributing income-producing buildings can claim the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit; homeowners should look at state credits. National Register districts impose no design review by themselves; a local historic district ordinance, if one exists, does (the difference explained).
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 76001206.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5471994
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.