Fort Burnside’s Disguised Command Post at Beavertail Point
Just three days before Pearl Harbor, the US Army set up Fort Burnside at Rhode Island’s Beavertail Point.
They hid their command post as a large beach house, but inside sat 36-inch concrete walls and top-secret radar gear. From this spot, they guarded vital war factories making Liberty ships and PT boats.
The fort used underwater mics, magnetic loops, and two huge submarine nets to lock down Narragansett Bay. Big coastal guns could hit targets 26 miles out at sea.
Today, this once-secret nerve center stands as a testament to America’s hidden home front that you can still visit.
The War Department Picked Beavertail Just Before Pearl Harbor
The War Department signed orders on October 2, 1941, calling for 17 Harbor Entrance Command Posts to guard America’s coastline.
They picked Beavertail Point in Rhode Island for its clear views of both passages into Narragansett Bay.
This spot protected what President Roosevelt called America’s “Arsenal of Democracy” – the wartime factories and shipyards throughout Rhode Island.
The Army made this choice just two months before Japan attacked Pearl Harbor. They quickly bought 185 acres of Beavertail Peninsula, including several fishing camps.
Fort Burnside Opened Three Days Before Japan Attacked
The Army set up Fort Burnside on December 4, 1941, just three days before the Pearl Harbor attack.
They named it after Ambrose Burnside, a Civil War general who later became Rhode Island’s governor. The government paid $15,500 for Peckham Camp and other fishing spots in 1943.
Almost overnight, Beavertail Peninsula changed from a peaceful fishing and vacation area into a military base. Workers started building an observation post that looked like a normal seaside cottage from outside.
A Fake Beach House Hid Concrete Fortress Walls
The Harbor Entrance Command Post looked like a large beach house to trick enemy spies or planes.
Behind this normal look stood walls made of 36-inch reinforced concrete, strong enough to survive naval attacks.
Inside, soldiers worked in a hardened bunker filled with watching gear and early radar. The three-story building gave military spotters great views of all Atlantic approaches.
Engineers added complex air systems and communication lines throughout the building.
Underwater Ears Listened for Enemy Submarines
Magnetic cables ran along the ocean floor south of Beavertail Point. These loops spotted large metal objects passing overhead, like submarine hulls.
The Army put underwater microphones in shipping channels that caught submarine engine sounds from miles away. Radar systems on the facility tracked ships day and night.
The loop station was part of the Navy’s nationwide submarine detection network. All these systems linked to coastal guns, creating a web that could find and target any enemy ship.
Giant Underwater Nets Blocked Enemy Access
A huge anti-submarine net stretched across the West Passage from Fort Kearny to Fort Greble on Dutch Island and then to Fort Getty.
Special boats stood ready to open and close these barriers when Fort Burnside gave orders. Another net covered the East Passage from Fort Wetherill to Fort Adams.
The nets had remote-controlled gates letting friendly ships pass while keeping enemy submarines out.
As backup, the Army placed mine fields near detection areas to stop submarines that might get through the nets.
Rhode Island’s Wartime Industries Got Round-the-Clock Protection
Fort Burnside watched over the Walsh-Kaiser shipyard in Providence, which built Liberty cargo ships. The fort also protected the Herreshoff boatyard in Bristol where workers made PT boats for the Navy.
Military staff kept an eye on Newport’s Destroyer Fleet, Naval War College, and Training Station from Beavertail. They also guarded the torpedo factory on Goat Island and the massive Quonset/Davisville Seabee operations.
Their watch included Seabee facilities and factories making thousands of Quonset huts shipped worldwide.
Massive Guns Created a Wall of Steel Around the Bay
Fort Burnside worked with 16-inch coastal guns at Fort Church and Fort Greene. These guns could fire huge shells 26 miles out to sea.
The guns created crossing fields of fire, forming a protective shield over all bay entrances. Aiming data traveled from Beavertail to gun batteries, telling them exactly where to shoot.
The network included smaller 6-inch and 3-inch guns throughout the area, creating layers of defense against any threat.
Soldiers Watched the Horizon Around the Clock
The command post tracked all military ships moving in and out of the bay throughout the war. Workers used early radar alongside powerful telescopes to watch vessels day and night.
Staff members worked with many fort commanders from Point Judith to Little Compton. The facility kept 24-hour watch throughout the war years from 1942-1945.
Submarine detection gear processed hundreds of ship contacts each month, marking each as friend or possible enemy.
Germany’s Surrender Changed Everything
Fort Burnside’s first job ended when Germany gave up in 1945. The military saw coastal guns as outdated and scrapped them in 1948 as war changed.
The Navy renamed the place Naval Radio Station Newport as Cold War tensions grew. The military changed focus from coastal defense to global navy communications as America faced new threats.
The base got ready for a bigger role in nuclear age naval work, changing from a defense outpost to a communication hub.
Antennas Replaced Guns as Cold War Tensions Grew
The Navy built 25 radio antennas across Beavertail Point in the years after WWII. Workers put in 30 transmitters connected to this antenna network, making Beavertail a major Navy communications center.
A 600-foot radio tower became a landmark visible from the mainland and passing ships. The facility helped Navy operations worldwide from its Rhode Island location.
The base continued its military service through the Korean War and early Cold War years, helping coordinate naval activities across the globe.
The Hidden Fortress Finally Opened to the Public
Naval Radio Station operations stopped in 1978 after 33 years of communications service. The government declared the site federal surplus land and handed it over to the State of Rhode Island.
Officials created Beavertail State Park in 1980, preserving the historic Harbor Entrance Command Post building. The original command post survives today as a testament to WWII coastal defense ingenuity.
Homeland Security later installed modern radar on the 1951 tower, continuing the site’s surveillance mission into the 21st century.
Visiting Beavertail Lighthouse, Rhode Island
You can explore Beavertail Lighthouse’s secret World War II history at Beavertail Road in Jamestown. The park grounds are free and open sunrise to sunset.
Fort Burnside’s 27-room structure with underground bunker and 36-inch reinforced walls housed the disguised command post that coordinated Narragansett Bay’s defense using submarine detection technology.
The museum requires appointments at fortburnside@gmail. com. Groups need special permits 30 days ahead by calling 401-884-2010.
This article was created with AI assistance and human editing.
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