Fort Standish (Boston, Massachusetts)

Fort Standish
Part of Harbor Defenses of Boston
Lovell's Island, Massachusetts
10-inch disappearing gun at Fort Casey, Washington state, similar to those at Fort Standish.
Fort Standish Location in Massachusetts
Coordinates	42°19′45.67″N 70°55′40.29″W / 42.3293528°N 70.9278583°W / 42.3293528; -70.9278583Coordinates: 42°19′45.67″N 70°55′40.29″W / 42.3293528°N 70.9278583°W / 42.3293528; -70.9278583
Type	Coastal Defense
Site information
Owner	Massachusetts
Controlled by	Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation
Open to the public	yes
Site history
Built	1899
Built by	United States Army
In use	1904-1946
Battles/wars	World War I World War II

Fort Standish was a coastal fort completed in 1907 and located on Lovell's Island in Massachusetts. Named after Myles Standish, the fort would serve to host up to 7 batteries until it was disarmed and deactivated in 1947. It was also named Lovell's Island Military Reservation during the early part of its existence. It was part of the Coast (later Harbor) Defenses of Boston.

Along with Fort Warren, Fort Andrews, Fort Banks, Fort Strong, and others, it was among the first modern defenses of Boston Harbor. The fort was de-activated in 1947 and in 1962 became part of the Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area.

Fort Standish was built 1899-1907. The gun batteries over its history through 1947 included:

Batteries Burbeck and Morris were originally combined as Battery Burbeck, but were administratively separated in 1909. The 10-inch guns were the fort's main armament against enemy battleships; the 6-inch guns could fire more rapidly against cruisers. The 3-inch rapid fire guns were intended to defend an underwater mine field against minesweepers. One source states the fort was first garrisoned in 1909, and at that time the 10-inch guns had not yet been mounted and Battery Williams' guns were not on site.

After the American entry into World War I in early 1917, the fort was expanded to include temporary structures such as quarters and additional storehouses. The 10-inch guns of Batteries Burbeck and Morris were earmarked for potential use as railway artillery but never left the fort. Battery Whipple's two 6-inch guns were removed from the fort in September 1917 for potential use on field carriages, but apparently were not sent overseas and were returned to the fort in April 1919. An antiaircraft battery of two guns was on the island 1917-1923. After the war the fort's support buildings were reduced to three "permanent" buildings.