Day after day visitors walk by Battery Pratt, situated in the middle of the gun line at Fort Stevens State Park. Battery Pratt emplaced two 6-inch rifles on disappearing carriages and was active between 1900 and 1943. The battery’s most notable event occurred….
Great Adventures!! Great Museum and Visitors Center! Great Gift Shop!
For one, “The BEAST”, a 5-ton military truck, will be ready to take visitors on a one-hour tour of the fort while sitting on padded troop benches no less! (There is a modest fee for the truck tour. Call for times.) For another, underground tours of the one-of-a-kind Battery Mishler will be available. (There is a modest fee for the Mishler tours. Call for times.)
Walk through the only enclosed Civil War era earthworks on the West Coast! Maps for self-guided tours are always available. CALL (503) 861-2000. Email firstname.lastname@example.org.
For The Record: A Discussion of the Men and Their Early War War II Era Units At The Harbor Defenses of the Columbia
By D. Lindstrom
As World War II loomed and became a reality, where did men of the Harbor Defenses of the Columbia come from and how did they feel about things? Let’s find out.
Our story begins with Battery E, 3rd Coast Artillery. This unit kept the harbor defenses on life support during the so called quiet years. Battery E had a rich history dating back to 1799 as part of the 3rd Artillery. During the War of 1812 Battery E saw action against the British. When the Mexican War came along, Battery E was part of the Brownsville episode and withstood a siege of 160b days. At the Battle of Buena Vista Batteries E and C saved the day. During the Civil War, Battery E distinguished itself in Florida and later joined Sherman’s Army as it chased Confederate General Joseph E. Johnson. After the Civil War, the 3rd Artillery was transferred to the West Coast…… (Select here for the full newsletter)
Published by the Friends of Old Fort Stevens, An Oregon 501(c)3 Organization. Helping To Preserve The History Of Oregon’s Fort Stevens State Park. Three Issues: Winter, Spring, Summer. Teaser:
The Reluctant Japanese Submarine: A Look At Why the Enemy Submarine Remained. In The Area Hours After Attacking Fort Stevens On June 21, 1942. By D. Lindstrom
Fire Control Hill, or H Station, was situated at a location isolated from the center of Fort Stevens. It overlooked Battery Russell, a 10-inch disappearing gun. From its vantage point, the station had a broad view to the northwest revealing the entrance to the Columbia River flowing into the Pacific Ocean. This view included the North Jetty on the Washington State side of the river, and the South Jetty on the Oregon side. The jetty’s provided more or less safe passage for shipping into the Columbia River Harbor with deep access into Oregon and Washington. The view then swept from west to south revealing nearby ocean beaches….. Read more here by downloading the PDF