Fort Barton Site is a historic military earthwork located in the town of Warren, Rhode Island, United States. Constructed in 1777 during the American Revolutionary War, the fort was established by the Rhode Island militia to protect the western approach to the Narragansett Bay area and to monitor movement along the local road network.
Historical context
- Construction and purpose: The fort was built as a defensive position to deter British incursions and to safeguard supply lines connecting the mainland to the coastal towns of the Rhode Island colony.
- Naming: The site was named “Fort Barton” in honor of a local militia officer; exact details of the namesake are documented in period militia records.
Physical description
- The fort consisted primarily of earthen embankments topped with wooden palisades, typical of hastily constructed Revolutionary‑War fortifications.
- Remnants of the earthworks remain visible within the present‑day park setting, although the original wooden structures have not survived.
Later use and preservation
- After the war, the fort fell out of military use and the land eventually became a public recreation area.
- The site was listed on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) in 1974 under reference number 74000099, recognizing its significance as a well‑preserved example of an 18th‑century field fortification.
Current status
- Today, Fort Barton Site is managed as a municipal park that includes walking trails, interpretive signage, and a small parking area.
- The park is open to the public year‑round and serves both as a recreational space and an educational site highlighting Rhode Island’s role in the Revolutionary War.
References
- National Register of Historic Places, “Fort Barton Site,” reference number 74000099.
- Rhode Island Historical Preservation Office, archaeological survey reports (1970s).
All information presented is drawn from established historical and preservation records.
