Fort Schuyler Fort Schuyler is a preserved 19th century fortification in the New York City borough of the Bronx . It houses a museum , the Stephen B . Luce Library , and the Marine Transportation Department and Administrative offices of the State University of New York Maritime College . It is considered one of the finest examples of French - style fortifications . The fort was named in honor of Major General Philip Schuyler of the Continental Army . History . Fort Schuyler was one of many forts built along the east coast of the United States in the aftermath of the War of 1812 , when it became brutally apparent that the U . S . coast was poorly defended against foreign invasion . Fort Schuyler was dedicated in 1856 after only 75 % completion . The fort was strategically positioned to protect New York City from naval attack through Long Island Sound , guarding the eastern entrance to New York Harbor . It is located on Throggs Neck , the southeastern tip of the Bronx , where the East River meets Long Island Sound . Fort Totten faces it on the opposite side of the river . Their interlocking batteries created a bottle - neck of defenses against ships attempting to approach New York City . Fort Schuyler , at its peak , boasted 440 guns . Later , it would be fitted with various other pieces throughout the ever - modernization of coastal defense artillery , once including 10 - inch and 12 - inch guns on disappearing carriages installed on the roof and on the peninsula around the fort . Coastal artillery emplacements at the fort lasted until 1935 . Civil War . During the American Civil War , Fort Schuyler held as many as 500 prisoners of war from the Confederate States Army and military convicts from the Union Army . It also included the MacDougall Hospital , which had a capacity of 2 , 000 beds . The fort was well designed for its time , it is said to have had one of the most effective waste removal systems ever seen in a fort from this time period . During its active duty , not one man died from disease . Fort Schuyler was also a location where units heading to war would rendezvous and be outfitted and trained before being deployed . Such units include the 5th New York Volunteer Infantry " Duryee ' s Zouaves , " and the 69th and 88th New York Volunteer Infantry Regiments ( the 1st and 2nd Regiments of Meagher ' s " Irish Brigade " ) . From January 1863 until July 1865 , the fort itself was garrisoned by the 20th Independent Battery , New York Volunteer Artillery , a unit originally recruited to fight in the war as part of the Anthon Battalion of Volunteer Light Artillery . Duty at the fort was reported to be a dull assignment as the men took the roles of guards and hospital stewards , not artillerymen . From July until August 1865 the Fort was garrisoned by companies A , B , C , F , G , H and I of the Anderson Zouaves ( companies D and E being assigned to Fort Wood on Bedloes Island ) , upon their return from service with the VI Corps of the Army of the Potomac and duty in the defenses of Washington , D . C . The Anderson Zouaves finally mustered out from Fort Schuyler on August 30 , 1865 . The last garrison was removed in 1911 , when new structures were built on Fishers Island at the eastern entrance to Long Island Sound . College . In the late 1920s Fort Schuyler was placed on the abandoned list by the U . S . Army . When this was done , it was targeted for acquisition by Robert Moses for conversion to a state park as well as a permanent shore base for the New York State Merchant Marine Academy ( now SUNY Maritime College ) . A protracted political struggle ensued , but eventually the academy forces prevailed . The site was then rehabilitated by the Works Progress Administration during the Great Depression and dedicated to the school in 1938 . The college , which was founded in 1874 , still occupies the site , and in 1948 was one of the original 29 founding schools to be incorporated into the State University of New York as the State University of New York Maritime College . The fort has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1976 . Museum . In 1986 , a portion of Fort Schuyler was dedicated as the Maritime Industry Museum . The museum houses exhibits on the history of the United States maritime industry , including commercial shipping , the merchant marine , and the port of New York , as well as exhibits on the history of Fort Schuyler . It is open to the public on weekdays .