A Fort That Never Fired at an Enemy
Fort Adams is enormous. Walk its parade ground and the walls rise around you on every side, granite and brick built to absorb a naval bombardment. Below them run casemates, passageways, and tunnels that stay cool and dark even in August.
It was built for a war that never reached it. In more than two centuries, no enemy ever attacked Fort Adams. And yet for generations it was full of young soldiers far from home, living in close quarters, with all the tempers, grudges, and tragedies that come with that.
Some of those soldiers died here. According to the people who care for the fort today, not all of them have left their posts.
Guarding Narragansett Bay
The First Fort
The first Fort Adams was established on July 4, 1799, as part of the young nation's first system of coastal defenses, designed by the French engineer Louis de Tousard.
The Great Stone Fort
The fort you see today rose between 1824 and 1857. It is a Third System fort, designed by Simon Bernard, with construction overseen for years by Joseph G. Totten, who would become one of the most important military engineers in American history. Its job was simple: guard the entrance to Narragansett Bay.
Later, between 1896 and 1907, additional gun batteries were built to the south to defend the bay's East Passage.
Fort Adams served through five major wars. It was never attacked and never used in combat.
Fort Adams Today
The Fort Adams Trust was founded in 1994 and began giving tours the following year. Much of the fort is still closed to the public, and the Trust continues working to open more of it. The fort is open daily in season, roughly April through November, with guided and self-guided tours; check the Trust's site for current hours and admission before visiting.
The Ghost Stories of Fort Adams
Deaths in the Garrison
A fort that never fights can still be a violent place. According to a 2019 account in the Newport Buzz describing a paranormal investigation at the fort, several deaths are associated with Fort Adams in local history: a soldier in the 1800s who was beaten to death by a comrade after an argument; a jealous soldier in the 1920s who shot his unfaithful wife, who survived, and then killed himself; and a corporal who was shot point-blank by a friend.
What the Caretakers Report
That investigation was requested by the fort's caretaker, who had heard reports from staff and visitors of poking, jabbing, and even rocks being thrown at them, along with footsteps, apparitions, and doors opening and closing on their own. His question was a practical one: were the staff and visitors safe?
The Tunnels and the Bakery
The investigators reported footsteps and shuffling in the old bakery and something tugging at a team member's jacket, which matched what the caretaker had described. In the tunnels, a team member reported being touched again. They heard knocking and whimpering, and they reported hearing a child's voice say, "You're not supposed to see me." A camera left running recorded footsteps down a hallway where soldiers once marched.
Their conclusion was reassuring: none of the activity they picked up seemed threatening, and there was no reason to fear. Whatever is walking the halls of Fort Adams, the team believed, is simply still on duty.
Still Standing Guard
Fort Adams was built to stand watch over the bay, and it still does. On a quiet evening, with the light going gold over the water and the parade ground emptying out, it is easy to imagine the garrison that once lived here.
The people who work at Fort Adams do not always have to imagine it. Some of them say they can hear it.
