Fort Hancock Days - October 25, 2025, 12:00pm to 4:30pm
Step back into 1943 with the Army Ground Forces Association (AGFA), a National Park Service (NPS) Philanthropic Partner, to commemorate the formal renaming of the "Fortifications of Sandy Hook" to Fort Hancock in 1895 and celebrating the 83nd anniversary of the conversion of Battery Gunnison to New Battery Peck in 1943. AGFA members, uniformed as WWII era Coast Artillery soldiers, will bring Battery Gunnison/New Battery Peck and its various systems to life as they were in October 1943.
Visitors will be able to operate various pieces of historic equipment. Visitors will witness loading drills for the M1900 6-inch guns. It takes a minimum of 12 people to operate a gun. The guns had to be loaded within 15 seconds. There is a timing bell to signal the 15 second limit, so the yes/no of making time does have an audible signal. Visitors are invited to participate. Visitors can also build loading teams and compete against each other for time. AGFA gun drill members will show visitors how to perform each of the duties and help the team to be successful at loading the gun under 15 seconds.
The event is open to the public. Donations are encouraged to support AGFA's restoration work at Fort Hancock on behalf of the National Park Service and our fellow Americans.
If you desire to participate in a "loading drill" of the M1900 6-inch guns, wear clothing that you don't mind getting dirty!
Wear sturdy shoes. Stairs to the gun platform are steep so make sure you hold onto the railing while climbing stairs. Seacoast gun batteries are not ADA accessible.
This event will happen, rain or shine.
NOTE: If there is significant rain, the Gun #2 platform and the gun itself will not be opened or only opened in a limited manner.
Fort Hancock Days Downloads
Intelligence Bulletin, October 1943HQ Eastern Defense Command Proclamation #5
Naming of Fort HancockEstablishment of the coast defenses of Eastern New York
Audio Downloads (Radio Broadcasts to set the mood!)
Fast Facts HDNY
New York Times Article on Fort Hancock Artillery Practice
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