Fort Wetherill State Park

41°28′38″N 71°21′28″W / 41.47722°N 71.35778°W / 41.47722; -71.35778^[1]Area61.5 acres (24.9 ha)Elevation0 ft (0 m)^[1]Established1972AdministratorRhode Island Department of Environmental Management Division of Parks & RecreationWebsiteFort Wetherill State Park

Fort Wetherill State Park is a public recreation area occupying 61.5 acres (24.9 ha) at the southeastern tip of Conanicut Island in the town of Jamestown, Rhode Island. The state park sits on the East Passage of Narragansett Bay opposite Fort Adams State Park. From 1901 through World War II, Fort Wetherill and Fort Adams were part of a string of coastal defenses designed to protect the bay's entrance points. The Fort Wetherill battery and training camp were acquired by the State of Rhode Island from the United States in 1972.^[2] The park is used for sightseeing, scuba diving, picnicking, boating, fishing, and hiking.^[3] As of 2020, the fort itself is almost completely covered in graffiti.

In popular culture

The beach scene in the 2012 film Moonrise Kingdom, directed by Wes Anderson, was shot at Fort Wetherill State Park.^[4]^[5]

References

^ ^a ^b "Fort Wetherill". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
^ "Fort Wetherill State Park History". State of Rhode Island Division of Parks & Recreation. Retrieved August 26, 2014.
^ "Fort Wetherill State Park". State of Rhode Island Division of Parks & Recreation. Retrieved August 26, 2014.
^ "'Moonrise Kingdom' Beach". Atlas Obscura. Retrieved December 3, 2022.
^ Barnhardt, Carly (June 20, 2016). "Movie Stills: 5 Cinematic Spots in Rhode Island". Rhode Island Monthly. Retrieved December 3, 2022.