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326:, a massive iron structure that stretched across the narrow bend in the Hudson between the island and the mainland at West Point. The chain was intended to prevent British naval vessels from navigating freely along the Hudson. This was the second attempt to string a chain across the Hudson River in an effort to prevent the British from taking control of the Hudson thereby splitting the American colonies. The first chain, which weighed 35 tons and was 1650 yards long stretched between the base of Fort Montgomery and the rock at
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become unsafe. The garden and grounds are open for visiting on certain days in the summer. The
Military Academy has made improvements to the site including upgrades to the roadways, drainage, support facilities and trails. The West Point Museum and United States Army Garrison have begun the construction of an Education Center on the island. The project is a joint effort of the US Army Corps of Engineers, Directorate of Public Works, West Point and the
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290:. Construction of the fortifications began in the summer of 1775, and the island was soon known as Constitution Island. By November it had 70 cannons. However, difficulties in construction and management of the original plan of fortifications, together with escalating costs, led to abandonment of that project. A site at
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The strategic importance of the ability to control navigation along the Hudson River was obvious to both the
Americans and the British from the outbreak of open hostilities. The Hudson was the major means for transportation of supplies and troops throughout a large portion of the northeast. On May
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for reeling in the chain. Kosciuszko also added the
Lanthorn Battery at Gee's Point and the Knox Battery to cover the South Dock. The original iron chain, with one and a half inch thick links, was replaced in 1778 with links two and a quarter inches thick, which were two feet long and weighed 140
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The
Constitution Island Association, a not-for-profit organization, traditionally provides historic and cultural tours for visitors to the island and maintains the extensive gardens surrounding the Warner House. At this time, the Warner House has been closed to visitors because the structure has
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Sir: I take pleasure in tendering as a gift to the United States from myself and Miss Anna
Bartlett Warner, Constitution Island, opposite of West Point…to be an addition to the Military Academy…under the following conditions: First: That ‘the Island be for the use forever of the United States
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fortifications in the Hudson Valley. Taken briefly by the
British in 1777, the island was re-occupied by American forces in 1778, and made an integral part of Fortress West Point. The island was bequeathed to the military academy in 1909 and has been administered by the
232:, Martelaer's Rack, or Martyr's Reach. The word "martyr" signified "struggling", as vessels coming up the river with a fair wind would frequently find themselves, immediately after passing the point of the island into the reach, contending with the wind ahead.
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I have received your letter of
September 4th. I wish to thank you for your very generous gift to the Nation, and I have written Miss Warner thanking her…. Permit me now, on behalf of the Nation, to thank you most heartily again for a really patriotic act.
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was proposed, and in
January 1776, the materials and resources from Fort Constitution were redirected to the construction at the new site. The building of Fort Constitution was suspended while the militia concentrated their efforts on building Forts
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Military
Academy at West Point…that no part of it shall ever be used as a public picnic, excursion, or amusement ground, operated by private enterprise, individual or corporate, for profit…”
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and
Independence south of the island in the hope of containing the British further downstream. The earthworks at Fort Constitution were unfinished when British troops destroyed them in 1777.
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272:. Located on a strategic curve in the Hudson River, engineer Bernard Romans, was appointed to begin the construction of a large fort on the island which was to be named “Fort Constitution".
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began designing Fortress West Point as a series of forts and redoubts on both sides of the river. On Constitution Island, a barracks, three redoubts, and a water battery were constructed.
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It is the only part of the U.S. Military Academy Reservation on the east side of the Hudson River. Formerly known as "Martelaer's Rock", Constitution Island is the site of the earliest
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and elsewhere. The Warner sisters are recognized as among the most significant American women writers of the nineteenth century. Anna Bartlett Warner's most well known song is
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In 1908, Mrs. Russell Sage and Miss Anna Warner presented Constitution Island to the United States government as a joint gift according to the following stipulations:
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25, 1775, the Continental Congress resolved to build fortifications in the Hudson highlands for the purpose of protecting and maintaining control of the Hudson River.
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The Great Chain remained in place (except during months when ice blocked the river) from 1778 to 1782. After the war, Constitution Island returned to civilian use.
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lay a large rocky island connected to the eastern shore by a reedy marsh. Dutch Navigators called it Martelaer's Island and the part of the river between it and
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The Education Center was completed in 2016, the Warner House has been completely restored and will be ready as a museum again in the spring of 2020.
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as part of the National Historic Landmark of the United States Military Academy, is located on Constitution Island and administered by the
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and Christopher Tappan were sent to scout appropriate locations. The initial site chosen was Martlaer's Island, across from
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to draft plans as to how the Hudson River should be fortified against the British. Local residents
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were popular, prolific novelists whose works sold millions of copies in the United States,
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Map of West Point fortifications from 1775 to 1783 showing the island and vicinity
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Storozynski, A., 2009, The Peasant Prince, New York: St. Martin's Press,
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The island is perhaps best known as the eastern anchor-point for the
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722:""Constitution Island", Hudson River Valley National Heritage Area"
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and solely funded by the United States Army Garrison, West Point.
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680:"The Revolutionary War", Constitution Island Association
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Ruins of Redoubt #7 on the western bluff of the island
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The president sent the following letter to Mrs. Sage.
691:"Fort Constitution", New York State Military Museum
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592:Redoubt 7 on western edge of island, as seen from
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1283:Tourist attractions in Orange County, New York
556:Great Chain historical marker at the boat dock
16:Island on the Hudson river opposite West Point
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544:Fortress West Point info plaque at boat dock
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472:Cannon on site of original Ft. Constitution
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1298:Historic house museums in New York (state)
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667:The Hudson, from the Wilderness to the Sea
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619:View from Sherburne Battery at West Point
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279:Historical marker across the river at
193:and is connected to the east shore by
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669:, New York, Virtue and Yorston, 1866
393:“Lawrence, L.I., September 4, 1908,
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484:Ft. Constitution information plaque
286:Plans for the fort called for four
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185:. It is directly opposite the
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1268:United States Military Academy
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413:With regard, Yours sincerely,
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883:Army West Point Black Knights
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444:Sign near caretaker's cottage
71:Show map of the United States
1288:Military in New York (state)
262:New York Provincial Congress
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1303:Islands of the Hudson River
923:Commander-in-Chief's Trophy
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420:Both sisters are buried at
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1278:American Revolutionary War
853:Combating Terrorism Center
802:at the West Point web site
706:Virtual Trip up the Hudson
508:Gravel Hill Battery plaque
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641:Redoubt Four (West Point)
636:Fort Clinton (West Point)
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800:Warner House information
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310:In 1778 Polish engineer
177:on the east side of the
1216:On, Brave Old Army Team
1152:Class the stars fell on
580:Warner House, July 2010
665:Lossing, Benson John.
568:The Warner house c1908
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1221:Sandhurst Competition
1146:Top-ranking graduates
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256:was appointed by the
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187:U.S. Military Academy
146:41.40556°N 73.95417°W
406:“My dear Mrs. Sage:
377:Anna Bartlett Warner
258:Continental Congress
116:West Point, New York
102:Show map of New York
1163:Master of the Sword
1120:Kosciuszko's Garden
1100:Constitution Island
646:Kosciuszko's Garden
422:West Point Cemetery
373:Susan Bogert Warner
350:Stirling Iron Works
230:Storm King Mountain
164:Constitution Island
151:41.40556; -73.95417
142: /
35:at Merritt Road at
22:Constitution Island
981:Gillis Field House
415:Theodore Roosevelt
337:Tadeusz Kościuszko
312:Thaddeus Kosciusko
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195:Constitution Marsh
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1158:Notable non-grads
430:West Point Museum
369:West Point Museum
354:Warwick, New York
260:to work with the
254:George Washington
236:Fort Constitution
207:West Point Museum
202:Revolutionary War
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112:Nearest city
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1226:Thayer Award
1125:Redoubt Four
1105:Fort Clinton
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1074:Trophy Point
1069:Thayer Hotel
1034:Flirtie Walk
943:Lacrosse (m)
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730:. Retrieved
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458:Trophy Point
456:Viewed from
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179:Hudson River
168:northeastern
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96:Location in
1247:Eggnog riot
1115:Great Chain
1110:Fort Putnam
962:Facilities
907:Basketball
631:Fort Putnam
343:designed a
339:along with
324:Great Chain
222:Cold Spring
181:, north of
149: /
124:Coordinates
1262:Categories
1201:Honor Code
1196:Class ring
1189:Traditions
1027:Protestant
948:Soccer (m)
754:0231070438
732:2015-08-14
652:References
305:Montgomery
281:West Point
270:West Point
226:West Point
166:is in the
137:73°57′15″W
134:41°24′20″N
37:West Point
1231:The Corps
1059:Monuments
1049:Hayes Gym
1022:Old Cadet
991:Tate Rink
958:Rugby (m)
876:Athletics
846:Academics
1044:Cemetery
1012:Catholic
1008:Chapels
953:Softball
933:Handball
928:Football
903:Baseball
625:See also
288:bastions
252:General
220:Between
175:New York
98:New York
1173:current
1088:History
1039:Grounds
381:England
345:capstan
301:Clinton
1141:Alumni
1134:People
1017:Jewish
1002:Campus
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708:, 1846
118:, U.S.
1211:Mules
1064:Plain
916:Women
318:Chain
1240:Lore
1206:IOCT
766:ISBN
750:ISBN
375:and
224:and
911:Men
858:DPE
417:.”
352:in
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