Let’s Restore the Fort
In August 1778, the Revolutionary War Battle of Rhode Island was fought at Butts Hill Fort. Butts Hill Fort is the largest remaining Revolutionary War fortification in southeastern New England. After the Revolutionary War, most earthen forts were destroyed by farming, but the Fort Butts area was much too rocky to be farmed. By 1934, the Butts Hill Fort was overgrown and the State of Rhode Island took over the property. In 1968, the State transferred the property to the Town of Portsmouth for one dollar.
The Portsmouth Historical Society is trying to gain public awareness of the historical significance of the site and start a movement to develop the fort area into a public park to properly commemorate the 250th anniversary of the battle in 2028.
Preliminary Concept Plan for Ft. Butts
A plan to Restore Revolutionary War Fortification in 1794
We are not the first group to make plans to restore the fort. Nor were the efforts tens years ago. Indeed they started back in 1794.