Fort Lafayette

Fort Lafayette was a coastal fortification in New York Harbor, built on Hendrick's Reef near the southern tip of Brooklyn. Construction began during the War of 1812 and was completed in 1822. Originally named Fort Diamond for its shape, it was renamed in 1823 to honor Marquis de Lafayette ahead of his U.S. tour.

Armed with over 70 cannons and built of sandstone and brick, the fort played a key role in the harbor's defenses. It worked in tandem with nearby Fort Hamilton and Fort Richmond (now Fort Wadsworth) to guard the entrance to New York City.

During the Civil War, Fort Lafayette became a prison for Confederate sympathizers and political detainees, earning it the nickname the "American Bastille." Notable prisoners included arsonist Robert Cobb Kennedy and editor Francis Key Howard, who criticized Lincoln's suspension of habeas corpus.

In later years, the fort was used for dynamite gun testing and naval ammunition storage. It was demolished in 1960 to make way for the Brooklyn tower of the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge, which now stands on its original site.