Fort Hamilton, located on Rose Island in Narragansett Bay near Newport, Rhode Island, is one of the last surviving First System fortifications constructed between 1798 and 1801 under President John Adams. Designed in part by Major Louis de Tousard, the fort features original bombproof barracks, bastions, and curtain walls that remain remarkably intact. The 18-acre Rose Island also includes a historic lighthouse and wildlife refuge. The Rose Island Lighthouse and Fort Hamilton Trust now manages preservation efforts, offering the public historical interpretation and educational programs while providing visitor accommodations and guided tours to experience this important example of early American military architecture.
