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1993
Historic Landmark Nomination Granted
1993
Historic Landmark Nomination Granted
National Recognition: Fort Massapeag Becomes a U.S. National Historic Landmark
National Recognition: Fort Massapeag Becomes a U.S. National Historic Landmark
In 1989, after 25 years as a community space, Oyster Bay Town Historian Dorothy Horton McGee spearheaded the nomination of Fort Massapeag for U.S. Historic Landmark status. Collaborating with archaeologist Ralph Solecki and the National Park Service, their efforts culminated in the site receiving this prestigious designation in 1993.
The nomination form, detailing the site's rich collection of artifacts and its significant role during the early contact period with European settlers, spurred further scholarly research. Publications by Solecki and Stone significantly advanced the understanding of Fort Massapeag and similar sites.
This national recognition underscores a crucial fact: Fort Massapeag is the only known Indigenous fort on Western Long Island.
Updated Sign and the 1993 Nomination
Updated Sign and the 1993 Nomination
The second Massapequa Indian Fort Sign sits in Sunset Park in 2024. Little known to the community before 2025, this track of land in Massapequa is the site of Fort Massapeag, circa 1656-1664. These grounds and vicinity contained extensive Indigenous artifacts supporting government recognition as a National Historic Landmark by the United States Parks Department. Photo by the author.
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