Fort Revere in Hull, Massachusetts is one of the most elegant places you can visit in the area. It has views of Boston Harbor, Hingham Bay and on a pretty clear day the Boston skyline. The area around the garden (some 8 acres) has an observation tower, a picnic area and even a small museum. They are mere minutes from Nantasket Beach and restaurants and attractions there. All in all it is a historical, educational and fun place to visit.
Fort Revere was built in 1776 as a defense measure for Boston Harbor. It sits on Mount Telegraph, on a small peninsula that juts out in front of the harbor. From this position, the castle can overlook both Hengham Bay and Boston Harbor. Today the site also overlooks Hull Village and a small cemetery with a tomb which is a legend among local visitors. It can be seen from above the walls of the citadel, and the epitaph reads simply, “I am sick, I have spoken.”
All that remains of Fort Revere today are a few simple concrete and brick fortifications and some artillery fortifications. It is known to the locals as forts. There is only one fort, or literally, several defenders, but that is what they call it. There is also a speculation that was added later in the shape of a ram much more than the castle itself. The Fort itself usually returns to nature.
Once you reach the top of Telegraph Hill, Fort Revere is accessible via a flight of stairs or a short walk up a small but steep hill. The view of the hill from top is a concrete mass with windows and steps and you can see the circular. pressures where the guns once mounted. An odd thing to see is the grass that covers the top of the bunkers. If you go down to the castle and climb the steps to the top of the ramparts, it’s not unlike standing on top of a natural hill.
The rest of Fort Revere is more interesting, but there are a few things you should know before you visit. The interior is also darker during the day. Some rooms have windows, but not all, so that a lamp can come in handy. Also, one pair of sneakers is much better than shoes. Because Fort Reverence is so close to Nantasket Beach, you may be tempted to keep your flip-flops on; but that is not expedient. Irresponsible visitors have been known to leave litter inside the fort. It’s relatively clean, but you don’t want to take the chance of getting into something of a questionable nature. Sneakers also come in handy if you want to climb the rotten stairs to the wall so you can see the view from the top.
The interior of the fortress of Revere fell into confusion. Now they are safe and can go in, but they are prepared to see rotting brick walls and massive graffiti. Some of the living rooms are simply walls with two doors on either side, and others are a little more interesting with what looks like concrete beds and fireplaces. The exterior is a series of ramparts, ramparts, and cannon fortifications. It is possible to climb to the top of one of the fortifications and follow the wall from the opposite side of the castle, if they are careful.
The views of Fort Revere and the unique experience of seeing a Revolutionary War fort go back to nature are worth a visit. It would be nice if the whole thing could be cleaned up a bit, however it is what it is and certainly has to be felt. If you want to visit the castle, there are hours every day of the year from sunrise to sunset. If you are going at any time other than the solstice months, you may want to bring a heavy coat or jacket, depending on the season. It gets cold and you want to enjoy the view for a while.
