American Seacoast Forts: A Directory in 4 Volumes

These books are now available from the CDSG Press for $40.00 each. Download the flyer for ordering details, order from the CDSG Shop or order from Amazon.

American Seacoast Forts – A Directory with Period Military Maps 1890-1950 is a comprehensive visual and descriptive directory to the forts and batteries of America’s concrete and steel-era seacoast defenses (1890-1950). This four volume set provides a detailed listing of all of the U. S. coastal fortifications covering the North Atlantic Coast (Volume 1), the Mid-Atlantic, South Atlantic and Gulf Coasts (Volume 2), the Pacific Coast (Volume 3), and Alaska and the Overseas Bases: Hawaii, the Philippines, the Panama Canal Zone, the Caribbean, Bermuda, and Newfoundland (Volume 4). Each volume includes a discussion of the design and function of American seacoast forts, including their historical development, objectives, armament, organization, arrangement, garrison life, as well as a detailed description of what can be found on the period military maps included.Twenty-one defenses of the major continental U. S. harbors and several oversea bases are described in the directory through a brief history of the fort or military reservation and a history of each gun or mortar battery. These listings are supported by period military maps and both historical and current aerial photographs. Heavily illustrated with over 1,200 maps, plans, and period photographs, this work is the most comprehensive coverage of American seacoast defenses in print. It is a worthy companion to the CDSG Press’s earlier publication, American Seacoast Defenses – A Reference Guide. Readers will find this work essential for the study of America’s coastal fortifications and as guide to visiting these historic military sites.

Volume 1 North Atlantic Coast

• The defenses of Portland, Portsmouth, Boston, New Bedford, Narragansett Bay, Long Island Sound and New York

Volume 2 South Atlantic & Gulf Coasts

• The defenses of Delaware Bay, Baltimore, Potomac River, Chesapeake Bay, Cape Fear River, Charleston, Port Royal, Savannah, Key West, Tampa Bay, Pensacola, Mobile Bay, Mississippi River and Galveston

Volume 3 Pacific Coast

• The defenses of San Diego, Los Angeles, San Francisco Bay, Columbia River, and Puget Sound

Volume 4 Alaska & the Overseas Bases

• The defenses of Sitka, Seward, Kodiak, Dutch Harbor, Oahu Hawaii, Manila & Subic Bays the Philippines, The Panama Canal Zone, San Juan Puerto Rico, Roosevelt Roads & points in the Caribbean, Argentia & St. Johns Newfoundland and Bermuda