Ruins are a fascinating piece of history. Not only do they give us a glimpse into times past, but they allow us to use our imagination to recreate what these crumbling buildings once were in their glory days. In Rhode Island, the ruins of Fort Greble are hiding in plain sight on an island that is visible off of our coast.
Dutch Island is located in the Narragansett Bay. The island has an area of just over 100 acres and is part of the town of Jamestown.
The island is only accessible by boat. There are no bridges connecting it to the mainland of the state.
Dutch Island has been used by the military since the Civil War. Gun batteries were constructed to defend Rhode Island's shores and waters.
During the Spanish American War and the many years following, more gun batteries and a few buildings were constructed on the island and from 1898-1947 it was known as Fort Greble.
Since the end of World War II, there haven't been any efforts to preserve or redevelop Fort Greble and what was once an integral part of our defense system is being taken over by nature.
Parts of buildings are crumbling away as plant life takes root on the deteriorating surfaces.
There are underground rooms that are also giving way to the passage of time as stone and brick collapse.
Trees and shrubs obscure the batteries and buildings giving the landscape an otherworldly feeling. We can see the pieces of the past on this island, but it is hard to imagine what Fort Greble on Dutch Island looked like in its heydays.
Did you know of the existence of Fort Greble? Did you know of someone who shared their history with this island? Share your stories in the comments section below.
There are other interesting ruins around the Ocean State to check out, to see their locations read this previous article.
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