Fort Washington Park

Fort Washington is a fortified position near the north end of Manhattan and was the highest point on the island. When you visit with your New York van rental, you will see where George Washington set up a fort to prevent the British from going up the river and to secure an escape route for the Americans. It is also home to the only lighthouse on Manhattan.

Set up a fort

In 1776, the Continental Army began constructing a fort for General Washington at the intersection of Fort Washington Avenue and 183rd Street (today's streets). The first structure had no water supply and no significant barriers to repel attackers. As the highest point on Manhattan Island, it was the ideal location for the army to keep watch over the Hudson River and far south to Manhattan. However, the position was not enough to keep the British from New York, as you may learn when you visit with your New York rental car. The fort was captured in 1776 and was held by the British until the end of the war. After the war, the fort began to disappear as the Washington Heights area of Manhattan grew. There are some granite outlines of the contours of Fort Washington in nearby Bennett Park.

The little red lighthouse

When you visit with your van rental New York, you may recall the Little Red Lighthouse from the children's books that were made famous in the 1940s. This is a small lighthouse on the Hudson River, on Jeffrey’s Hook. Today, it is at the base of the pier of the George Washington Bridge. You can access the lighthouse from a steep footpath down the north side of the bridge or by the riverside promenade south from Riverside Park and Riverbank State Park. Each September, you can also enjoy the Little Red Lighthouse Festival that people who love children’s literature come from all over to enjoy.

The park today

Today, you can come here with your rental van New York, you can also enjoy the baseball fields, basketball courts, tennis courts, and playground that New Yorkers come to enjoy. The park has been part of the West 181st Street Beautification Project and the New York Restoration Project to help ensure the park can provide diverse opportunities and remain a part of the community. Be sure to bring your camera because you will have great views of the Hudson River and the Palisades Cliffs in New Jersey.

How to get here

The park is located on Riverside Drive with your New York van rental along the Hudson River. You will find it between West 155th Street and West 179th Streets.

Get to know the neighborhood

Washington Heights is a nice area of Manhattan to explore with your New York rental van. One interesting thing in this area are step streets. Because of the hilly topography, these were necessary in the area as well as in the West Bronx. The longest such street is found in Washington Heights, with about 130 stairs. There are also three massive elevators that can take you to the same place in the 181st Subway Station.

Cross the river

On the other side of the George Washington Bridge with your New York van rental, you will find Fort Lee. This was once the defender of the opposite side of Fort Washington, and today is a town in New Jersey. Today there is a large Korean community. There is a Koreatown here, with a number of restaurants and shops for you to explore.

When you visit with your New York van rental, you will find yourself near the same spot George Washington stood during the Revolutionary War as he looked out over the Hudson.

Check out the All Car Rent a Car location at 111 Quintard Street, Staten Island, NY 10305