New York Harbour, Staten Island and Narrows

Panorama of the Harbor of New York, Staten Island (foreground) and the Narrows, looking north. Drawn from nature and on stone by John Bornet. Published by Goupil & Co., 1854. Copyright by Nagel & Weingärtner, printmaker. Click on the image to enlarge it.

Illustration shows Fort Tompkins (on the left), Fort Richmond (later Battery Weed), Bedlows Island (now Liberty Island), Ellis Island, Fort Lafayette, City of New York, City of Brocklyn, Fort Hamilton (Long Island) and Greenwood Cemetery.

Fort Tompkins guarded the landward approaches to other forts in the area from 1808 to about 1898. The present fort was built from 1847 t 1861, and was operational as a fort until superseded by new defenses in the late 19th century. It is now part of the Gateway National Recreation Area.