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Recreation |
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Fort Phoenix State
Reservation
Green Street
508-992-4524
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A place to take in history,
enjoy the beach or pull out the tennis
racket. But the most fun is simply watching.
Sailboats and commercial barges weave in and
out of New Bedford harbor, past Butler’s
Flats Light and Palmer’s Island Island.
Fort Phoenix played a
significant role in the American Revolution.
Less than a month after the “shot heard
‘round the world,” in Concord, Mass., locals
fought the American Revolution’s first naval
battle on May 13 and 14, 1775. The Americans
captured two British sloops, but would soon
see payback.
Fairhaven built a fort
following the naval attack, but the British
returned in Sept. 1778 and burned it down.
The fort was rebuilt and named Fort Phoenix,
for the mythical bird that resurrects after
burning to ashes. Decommissioned in 1876,
the fort was purchased in 1926 for $5,000 by
Urban H. Broughton, the daughter of Standard
Oil millionaire Henry Huttleston Rogers.
Broughton gave the land to the town.
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Phoenix Bike Trail
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This bike path passes Willow
Park, the old Atlas Tack Co. site and some of
the town’s grand old homes while offering a few
ocean glimpses. The trail runs 3.3 miles from
Main and South streets to Shaw Road. Parking is
available at Ferry and Main streets. |
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