Rhode Island's Former Military Fort Is A Coastal State Park With Underground Tunnels & Pier Fishing

For well over a century, Fort Adams guarded the entrance to Rhode Island's Newport Bay, protecting the coastline of the Ocean State. Since becoming a state park in 1965, though, the military bastion has transformed into a civilian paradise — an oceanside retreat for history buffs, anglers, and music lovers. 

Fort Adams State Park strategically occupies Brenton Point, which juts into Newport Bay, creating a "choke point." American officials built a fortress here after the Revolutionary War, fearing a future British attack on the harbor, and named it after their second president, John Adams. Between 1824 and 1841, Fort Adams was expanded into one of the United States' largest coastal bastions, capable of hosting 2,400 warring soldiers. The place never saw combat — none of its 468 perimeter guns ever fired a shot — but it was an active U.S. Army post during the Civil War, the Spanish American War, and World Wars I and II. In peacetime, about 200 soldiers held down the fort.

Fort Adams made it onto the National Register of Historic Places in 1970 and was named a National Historic Landmark in '76. A couple decades later, the Fort Adams Trust began restoring and developing its practical military infrastructure — like up to a mile of interconnected tunnels — into attractions for the public.

Fort Adams State Park spans 105 grassy acres and boasts 225 feet of shoreline: There's a lot to cover. To make sure you see all you can, look into the park's many official tours led by knowledgeable staff. One gives a look into the fort's military engineering. Another details the lives of officers who lived there with their families. Yet another, a "paranormal investigation," surveys the fort's history through spooky stories. (Fort Delaware State Park isn't the only former military fort- turned-haunted fall escape.)

If you're in the mood to explore at your own pace, select a self-guided tour. Though you won't get to see select spots like the officers' quarters, you can show yourself a scenic overlook with a panoramic view of Newport Harbor, which the Trust's director of visitor experience has joked is "the real reason the Army chose this spot." Self-guided tour-takers can now also explore the fort's underground tunnels — previously accessible only through guided tours. Known as the "listening tunnels," these passageways are one of Fort Adams' main attractions. The narrow brick tunnels date back to the fort's initial construction, and they were made for soldiers to patrol while listening for intruders. The tunnels are dimly lit and somewhat tight — claustrophobes, beware.

Exploring military history isn't the only way to have fun at Fort Adams. Its location makes it a hub for ocean activities, like saltwater fishing and sailing — boats can be rented onsite through Sail Newport. The fort is known for great shoreline angling, with waters rich in fluke, stripers, and bluefish. Visitors can cast from the high sea walls or the pier, which stretches out into the Atlantic. Evening fishing is recommended, especially in the spring and early summer. Just make sure to purchase a saltwater fishing license from Rhode Island beforehand.

Fort Adams State Park is about 4 miles from Newport, Rhode Island, and 40 miles from its capital, Providence. You'll need a car to get to the fort; no public transportation reaches its gates. But the park is only about an hour's drive from Rhode Island T.F. Green International Airport (PVD), where there are ample car rental services.

Fort Adams State Park is best explored amid sunshine and seabreeze, so plan to visit between May and October. Note that thousands of people flock here in the heat of summer for the Newport Folk Festival and Newport Jazz Festival, held on the last two weekends of July. These iconic events have had headliners like Dolly Parton, Bob Dylan, Duke Ellington, and Ella Fitzgerald since their 1950s inception. Fort Adams — with its convenient 6.5-acre parade ground — has hosted both since the '80s.

If one has come as far as Fort Adams State Park, they've probably already got Newport on the brain. After all, the fort's nearest city was once named the top U.S. destination for buying a vacation home. When you're finished enjoying Fort Adams, visit The Mooring in Newport to slurp up some classic New England clam chowder, then stroll the 3.5-mile windblown Cliff Walk at sunset. And if you're not done with the National Register of Historic Places, catch your Zs at the Mill Street Inn, a repurposed 19th-century workshop, for $319 per weeknight. For another unique spot to explore in Rhode Island, head an hour north to Rocky Point State Park, a once-abandoned amusement park turned greenspace.