Goat Island (Newport, Rhode Island)

USA / Rhode Island / Newport / Newport, Rhode Island
 island, place with historical importance, fort, United States Navy
In colonial times, goats grazed on this island and gave it its name.
'Several' pirates were hanged nearby and buried on the island in its early history, (see Gravelly Point at the west end of Long Wharf), Newport purchased Goat Island in 1673. An earthen fort was built on Goat Island in 1703 during the War of Spanish Succession, and it was named "Fort Anne" after the reigning Queen Anne. In 1738 a stone fort was built and renamed "Fort George" after the current King George II.

United States Naval Torpedo Factory on Goat Island, which was located here in 1869 and resident to 1952, when production centers shifted and the technology of warfare changed. Its mission was to develop and experiment with the different naval torpedoes and mines. Its successor is NUWC (Naval Underwater Warfare Center) located on the Naval Station in Middletown.

diodon349.com/Torpedoman/TM_Stuff/naval_torpedo_station...

(Some sources imply that the reason for the Torpedo Factory being located in Newport was in consideration of losing the Naval Academy back to Annapolis after the Civil War, after a short stay here.)
Wikipedia article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goat_Island_(Rhode_Island)
Nearby cities:
Coordinates:   41°29'17"N   71°19'37"W

Comments

  • The owner seems a bit odd
This article was last modified 12 years ago