Fairhaven, Massachusetts
Fort Phoenix
Photo: Marcbela (Marc N. Belanger), CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
The remains of a Revolutionary War fort, a universally accessible beach on Buzzards Bay, a playground, and a hurricane barrier to walk along.
Written for ages 3–12.
Researched from this park's own sources. Nobody's walked it yet.
Read this bit out
This fort was built in 1775 to guard the harbor, and its guns were meant for the water, because ships were where trouble came from. In 1778 British raiders wrecked it. Later it was named Fort Phoenix, after a magic bird that rises from its own ashes, and it was built again. Now look along the shore. That long wall across the harbor is a hurricane barrier. The fort was built to stop ships. The barrier was built to stop the sea.
One of your three free places, or the Explorer Pass. What that costs
Before you go
- Time there
- Plan on about an hour and a half at the park.
- Parking
- Free, with free parking in the lot on Green Street. Sunrise to sunset.
- Underfoot
- A small park: the fort remains, a beach below with a boardwalk, beach mat and beach wheelchairs, and the hurricane barrier to walk along. No dogs on the beach from April 1 to September 15.
- Stroller
- A stroller works on some of it.
- Bathrooms
- Bathrooms, but only in season.
- Food
- There is a picnic area with grills and a pavilion.
22 challenges written for this place
A game deals seven to fifteen of them, so no two visits are alike.
4 things to spot, 3 photographs to take and 3 things to work out.
Every game includes this one
Get Inside The Fort
Find the stone remains of the fort and stand in the middle of them.
A few of the others
Out Along The Barrier
Walk out along the hurricane barrier until you can see properly out to sea.
On The Walls
One photo of everybody at the fort with the harbor behind you.
Facing The Atlantic
One photo of everybody looking out at the open ocean.
Their Turn
Hand the phone to the youngest. They take one picture of whatever they want.
Which Way Were They Watching?
Work out which direction the fort was built to defend, and why that direction.
Two Kinds Of Defense
The fort was built to stop people. The barrier was built to stop water. Find both and work out which one is still working.
The rest are a surprise — that's the whole point.
Also around The South Coast
New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park
New Bedford
Thirteen blocks of a whaling city: the sailors' chapel from Moby-Dick, granite-block streets, and the house where Frederick Douglass got his name.
Copicut Woods
Fall River
516 acres of shady woods with Miller Lane, a 150-year-old cart path lined with stone walls, and a quarter-mile Discovery Trail built for strollers.
Play this at Fort Phoenix
Free. Works with no signal once you're there.