Fort Schuyler and SUNY Maritime College

The fort was built between 1833 and 1856, exemplifying the Third System of United States coastal fortifications. At its peak it housed 312 guns and could accommodate 1,250 personnel: the bottom two tiers inside the fort were casemated, while the third tier on the roof had barbette mounts, and the works included two demi-bastions, a ravelin, flank howitzers, an extensive hornwork — unique in the third system — and an advanced redoubt, later demolished. It was dedicated in 1856 but not garrisoned until 1861. During the Civil War it held up to 500 Confederate prisoners and contained the McDougall Hospital, with a 2,000-bed capacity. Endicott-era coastal artillery from 3-inch to 12-inch caliber was installed between 1898 and 1900, and some armaments were removed between 1917 and 1920. The fort was transferred to New York State in 1934 and its restoration was completed by the Works Progress Administration.

SUNY Maritime College was established in 1874 as the New York Nautical School, the oldest institution of its kind in the United States. It moved to the Fort Schuyler campus in 1938, became degree-granting in 1946, joined the SUNY system in 1948 and took its current name in 1949. The campus covers 55 acres. Fall 2025 enrollment was 1,552 students, 1,402 undergraduate and 150 postgraduate. Its bachelor's degrees prepare graduates for licensure as third mate or third assistant engineer in the U.S. Merchant Marine; it offers master's degrees in International Transportation Management and in Maritime and Naval Studies, and runs the only Navy and Marine Corps ROTC program in the New York metropolitan area. Its teams, the Privateers, compete in NCAA Division III in the Skyline Conference across 16 varsity sports. Alumni include Scott Kelly, Gary Jobson, Harry Manning and Joseph Hazelwood, captain of the Exxon Valdez.