Public History

Approximately four times a year, the general public is invited to explore Constitution Island at events sponsored by the Constitution Island Association in partnership with the Academy. These include Re-enactment Day, the Seafood Gala, Garden Day and Family Day.

At these events all the fortifications are generally open to the public, although some are difficult to find. As with many Fortress West Point sites, there are safety issues as people walk on the sites and this can contribute to the erosion of the sites themselves.

The addition of viewing platforms and graphic outdoor signage, as well as trail guides would contribute to the general public having a greater understanding of the significance of the American Revolutionary fortifications at West Point. Also, the Augmented Reality Digital Staff Ride applications being developed by a partnership of three academic departments at West Point will further enhance the viewer’s experience of seeing the sites as they were in 1775 – 1783. This view will eventually be available through mobile devices.

Romans’ Battery and Blockhouse

According to the authors of Highlands Fortress, “Mid-June marked the beginning of the fateful summer of 1776, and it also marked the end of major construction on Constitution Island until 1778. Work had begun in October of 1775, with the simultaneous construction of Romans’ Blockhouse and Battery. These works were impressive to observe, but their military value was questionable. No one except Romans was satisfied with their location.”

Romans was an under-qualified engineer and his efforts underscored the desperate need for the Americans to locate military engineers from France – a task spearheaded by Benjamin Franklin who sent Silas Deane abroad to get them. It is believed this is how Kosciuszko came to America as he was auditing classes at the French Military Academy having already graduated from the Polish Military Academy.

According to “Highlands Fortress” Romans’ plan was faulty: “Unable to engage ships at maximum range, and dominated by the surrounding terrain, Romans saw those fortifications as part of a much larger construction effort that might have minimized the disadvantages. His failure, however, was to plan too great an effort for the time available. In addition, he began construction on the least effective segment of the defensive system which would also require the greatest amount of construction. Consequently, Romans was discharged as the engineer of the highlands. General Washington’s grave concern for the need to effectively fortify the river at this juncture would be on hold until 1778 when the French engineer Radiere’s concept clashed with the Polish engineer Kosciuszko’s vision for how to quickly protect the high ground.“