Fort Totten Historic District

Designated in June 29, 1999

Fort Totten includes over 100 buildings and smaller secondary structures built between the 1830s and the 1960s. The fort, originally called the Fort at Willets Point, was established in 1857 as a major component in the defense system of New York Harbor. The major period of improvement and expansion for the fort occurred in 1885-1914, resulting in much of the historic character that exists today.

The fort remained in military hands until the 1970s when most of the land was turned over to the City of New York and is now operated under the jurisdiction of the Fire Department, the Parks Department, and the Historic House Trust.

STATUS Designated Historic District

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The Neighborhood

Fort Totten

The fort, originally called the Fort at Willets Point, was established in 1857 as a major component in the defense system of New York Harbor. The fort's surviving structures from various phases of construction vividly depict the changing role of military technology and defense strategy...

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Local Voices

“I don’t know what the City would be without HDC. [They] testified before LPC time after time and helped us focus on the right issues. We would not be an historic district without HDC! ”

Doreen Gallo: DUMBO Neighborhood Alliance

Local Voices

“Use HDC as a resource because they know what they are doing and can offer advice on how to go about creating a district from every front: architectural, political, LPC, and the media. I had floundered prior to my involvement with this invaluable organization.”

Fern Luskin: Lamartine Place Historic District; Friends of Lamartine Place & Gibbons Underground Railroad Site

Local Voices

“HDC provided guidance and shared information during that process—we knew which Council members were going one way or another and we changed a few minds. I don’t think NoHo would have had as cohesive a district had it not been for HDC’s aid.”

Zella Jones: NoHo Historic District; NoHo East; and NoHo Extension

Local Voices

“I remember Richard saying at a meeting, we have someone here from HDC, Nadezhda Williams, Director of Preservation and Research, to help us. She said to us, ‘You are not the only ones going through this.’ HDC included us in an enormous community”

Erika Petersen: West End Preservation Society

Local Voices

"HDC has begun a series of projects to highlight the Bronx's architectural and cultural history. From booklet's and research highlighting specific sites and historic districts to the HDC's symposium in October 2018 to the latest community-based committee to look into further possible sites to qualify for landmarking, the HDC has established projects that will serve the Bronx community well."

Elena Martinez
City Lore, Folklorist
Bronx Music Heritage Center, Co-Artistic Director

Local Voices

"Welcome2TheBronx is grateful for the advocacy done by the Historic Districts Council on behalf of the people of The Bronx. Through their deep connections and understanding of the importance of preserving our local histories, The Bronx has been able to have several spotlights shown on endangered communities as gentrification creeps into the borough."

Ed García Conde,
founder and Executive Director,
Welcome2TheBronx