Fort Adams

Since I am staying in Fort Adams State Park I decided to take a guided tour of Fort Adams. Here, at the tip of the Newport Island, is the iconic Newport Bridge in the distance ($5 toll to go over the bridge). 

This fort was never attacked probably because it was so well designed and fortified with grassy bluffs. Most people don't even see the fort when they drive by it. The place I am staying has a backyard patio that is right up against the fence that surrounds the fort.

In 1812 the fort was redesigned by Simon Bernard who was an aid to Napoleon Bonaparte until Bonepart was sentenced to exile on an island. This Bernard fellow was a genius. He included composting toilets and natural vents to clear the air of gun smoke after a cannon was fired. The steps are angled to repel rain and snow.

The walls are thick stone with granite archways. Brick surrounds the areas where the guns are shot because shards of raw brick are softer than shards of granite. The listening tunnels were the first thing to be installed. In the listening tunnel I could clearly hear my guide talking and he was 600 feet away. The incredible planning of this fort meant that any attacks would be suicidal. Maybe that is why Fort Adams was never attacked.