Harbor Defense Museum highlights the history of New York Harbor, from the American Revolution through the Cold War

From the American Revolution through the Cold War, military leaders employed various methods to defend New York Harbor against enemy attacks. And the best place to learn about that is an obscure museum at New York City’s only remaining active military base.

The Harbor Defense Museum occupies part of a masonry fort built from 1825-31 at Fort Hamilton on the Brooklyn shore, in the shadow of the Verrazano Narrows Bridge. The museum opened in 1980 after moving from Fort Wadsworth, located across the harbor on Staten Island.

Besides a regular stream of school and other groups, the museum’s approximately 1,000 visitors a month include “generally military buffs or people from the neighborhood,” according to museum director Justin Batt. “I like to say that the museum structure is probably our most precious artifact because it is an area that has been untouched.”

In addition to the brick and stonework, Batt noted the building’s “marvelous engineering feats” — its arched ceilings known as barrel vaults.

“We also want them to become familiar with the history of coastal defense in New York City,” he said of visitors.

That history begins with the British entering the harbor in 1776 and landing on the beach in Gravesend Bay at what would later become the site of Fort Hamilton to commence the Battle of Long Island, the largest battle of the American Revolution. At the museum, visitors can find cannons and cannonballs, a pistol, a bayonet and replica British and Patriot uniforms from that time period.

Also on display is a model of the fort; cannons, swords and pistols used in the 19th century; and mortars, rifles and machine guns from World War II.

Other notable artifacts are a mid-19th century flank howitzer on a carriage that could be swung from side to side to fire 24-pound cannonballs, and a trumpet from the 401st Women’s Army Corps Band, an all-female unit of 31 professional musicians that was stationed at Fort Hamilton late in World War II.

Exiting the fort, visitors will encounter pre-Civil War era cannons and more modern firepower. Tour guides will also give guests an overview of the harbor and the beach where the British landed to begin their successful conquest of New York.

IF YOU GO

The museum is situated at 230 Sheridan Loop in Brooklyn. It is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Friday. Admission is free but reservations are suggested and can be made by calling 718-630-4349 to avoid the need for a background check on arrival. A guide will meet visitors at the check-in center by the base entrance.