Fort Howard, Maryland

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Fort Howard was named March 24, 1900 in honor of Colonel John Eager Howard, a famous soldier of the Maryland line, who served with distinction during the war of the Revolution.

US coastal defense fort, Fort Howard 1896-1960s; Endicott system (Batteries Key, Stricker, Nicholson, Harris, Clagett, Lazear); Defense & harbor headquarters for Baltimore; cantonment area used for VA Hospital 1940-2002; battery area used for intelligence training during Vietnam War, now a state park

Fort Howard had its beginning when the U. S. Government began to purchase land for the post in 1896. Its location at the mouth of the Patapsco River, was excellent for its purpose, the defense of the City of Baltimore from naval attack. Until April 4, 1900, it was known only as the North Point Military Reservation. On that date, the Fort was named in honor of Col. John Eager Howard, a distinguished soldier of the Maryland Continental Line during the Revolutionary War. Fort Howard was to become the headquarters for the coastal defenses of Baltimore. Under its command were Forts Smallwood, Armistead, and Carroll. Fort Howard’s first troops arrived on June 27 1899 and her last garrison left the post in August 1940, when the V. A. acquired title to the property.

Formerly home to the Headquarters, Third Corps Area from 1920 to 1922, the Headquarters, Third Coast Artillery District from 1920 to 1924, the Headquarters, Harbor Defenses of Baltimore, the 16th Infantry Brigade from 1922 to 1924 and 1926 to 1928, the 1st and 2nd Companies Coast Defenses of Baltimore from 1919 to 1922, the 164th Coast Artillery Company from 1922 to 1924, the 12th Infantry, less the 2nd and 3rd Battalions from 1922 to 1940, and Battery D, 12th Coast Artillery from 1924 to 1932.

www.hmdb.org/marker.asp?marker=2124